Breviary
/ˈbriː.vi.ər.i/noun
A book containing the prayers, hymns, and readings prescribed for the Divine Office in Western Christianity.
Did you know?A breviary condensed the longer books needed for the canonical hours, allowing clergy—especially those traveling—to carry the Church’s daily cycle of prayer with them.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mreǵʰu-
“Short or brief; the reconstructed root associated with Latin brevis.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
brakhýs
“Short; a cognate expressing the same basic idea of limited length.”
Classical Latin
Latin
brevis
“Short, brief, or concise.”
Late Latin
Latin
breviārium
“An abridgment, summary, or concise compilation.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
breviere
“A breviary or book containing the offices and prayers of the Church.”
14th Century
English
breviary
“A book of prayers and offices for the canonical hours.”
Modern English
English
breviary
“The traditional liturgical prayer book of the Western Church.”
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