monstrance

Etymology

From Middle English mustraunce, from Old French mostrance, monstrance, from post-classical Latin mōnstrantia, from classical Latin mōnstrāns, present participle of mōnstrāre (“to show”).

noun

  1. (Christianity) An ornamental, often precious receptacle, either open or with a transparent cover, in which the sacramental bread (consecrated host) is placed for Eucharistic adoration.
    Sir Oswald had done pretty well during the war out of his timber, and there had been no death duties to pay for many years, not since the old man had died. But there was no doubt that the shoe was beginning to pinch. He had been obliged to sell that Spanish monstrance in '30, or was it '31? 1935, Francis Beeding, “7/2”, in The Norwich Victims

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