The act of performing divine or solemn service, as established by law, precept, or custom; a formal act of religion or other solemn duty; a solemn observance; a ceremony; as, the rites of freemasonry.
Of or pertaining to rites or ritual; as, ritual service or sacrifices; the ritual law.
A prescribed form of performing divine service in a particular church or communion; as, the Jewish ritual.
Hence, the code of ceremonies observed by an organization; as, the ritual of the freemasons.
A book containing the rites to be observed.