noun
1. a Catholic sacrament; a priest anoints a dying person with oil and prays for salvation (Freq. 1)
• Syn: ↑anointing of the sick, ↑extreme unction
• Hypernyms: ↑sacrament
2. rites performed in connection with a death or burial
• Usage Domain: ↑plural, ↑plural form
• Hypernyms: ↑rite, ↑religious rite
* * *
Rom. Cath. Ch.
[1925-30]
* * *
last rites plural noun
Religious rites performed for a person close to death
• • •
Main Entry: ↑last
* * *
last rites,
religious rites performed by a priest for a dying or dead person; extreme unction. They include the saying of prayers and the administration Holy Communion.
* * *
plural n. (in the Christian Church) rites administered to a person who is about to die
* * *
noun
the last rites
: a religious ceremony that is performed by a Catholic priest for someone who is dying
The priest administered the last rites.
* * *
a Christian religious ceremony that a priest performs for, and in the presence of, a dying person
•
to administer the last rites to sb
•
to receive the last rites
Useful english dictionary. 2012.