beadroll: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ObsoleteArchaic / Literary / Historical / Ecclesiastical
Quick answer
What does “beadroll” mean?
A list of people to be prayed for, traditionally used in a religious context.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A list of people to be prayed for, traditionally used in a religious context.
A list or roll of the dead, or by extension, any list of names, especially one commemorating the deceased.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No meaningful contemporary difference. The word is equally obsolete in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical, Christian (especially Catholic) tradition.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both. Might appear marginally more in UK texts due to longer institutional history of the Church of England, but this is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “beadroll” in a Sentence
[Subject] consulted the ancient beadroll.His name was entered on the parish beadroll.The beadroll of the departed was read aloud.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or theological papers discussing medieval/early modern religious practices.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used in modern technical contexts. A specialist term in historical liturgy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beadroll”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “beadroll”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beadroll”
- Using it to mean a list of attendees at an event.
- Confusing it with 'bedroll' (sleeping mat).
- Assuming it is in current use.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term rarely encountered outside historical or specialized religious texts.
The 'bead' refers to rosary beads used to count prayers. The 'roll' is the parchment or list of names. Together, it means a list of people for whom prayers (counted with beads) are to be said.
No, it is only a noun. There is no recorded verb form 'to beadroll' in standard usage.
A roster is a list of living people, often for duty or membership. A beadroll is specifically a list of the dead, commemorated in prayer.
A list of people to be prayed for, traditionally used in a religious context.
Beadroll is usually archaic / literary / historical / ecclesiastical in register.
Beadroll: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːdrəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbiːdroʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be on the beadroll: to be dead and remembered in prayers.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a scroll (ROLL) with names, next to a string of BEADs used to count prayers for each person.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIST IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (a roll) / PRAYERS ARE BEADS ON A STRING.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'beadroll'?