altarage

noun

al·​tar·​age

-rij

plural -s

1

: the offerings made upon an altar or to a church

2

: the honorarium received by a priest for services at the altar

3

: endowments for masses for deceased persons

Word History

Etymology

alteration (influenced by altar) of Middle English awterage, from Anglo-French auterage, from Old French auter, alter altar (from Latin altare) + -age

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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