book of hours: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Specialist/Historical)Formal, Academic, Historical, Art Historical, Religious Studies
Quick answer
What does “book of hours” mean?
A Christian liturgical book containing prayers, psalms, and devotional texts to be recited at the eight canonical hours of the day, popular in the Middle Ages.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Christian liturgical book containing prayers, psalms, and devotional texts to be recited at the eight canonical hours of the day, popular in the Middle Ages.
A richly illuminated, portable prayer book for private, lay devotion, often custom-made for wealthy patrons. It symbolizes medieval piety, artistry, and personal worship outside formal church services.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage difference. The term is technical and consistent in both varieties within academic/art historical contexts.
Connotations
Connotes medieval history, illuminated manuscripts, private devotion, luxury items for the elite, and Gothic art.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Appears almost exclusively in academic, museum, or auction house contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “book of hours” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] book of hours [VERB]...A book of hours [VERB] for [PERSON]...to [VERB] a book of hoursVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “book of hours” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The wealthy patroness commissioned a book of hours for her private chapel.
- Scholars have meticulously catalogued every known book of hours.
American English
- The museum just acquired a beautifully preserved book of hours.
- She studies how books of hours were used in daily medieval life.
adjective
British English
- The book-of-hours tradition peaked in the 15th century.
- This is a typical Flemish book-of-hours style.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used in art auction catalogues or insurance valuations: 'The 15th-century book of hours is estimated at £2 million.'
Academic
Common in history, art history, religious studies: 'The iconography of the Annunciation in Books of Hours reveals changing patterns of lay piety.'
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used on a museum visit: 'Look at the detailed pictures in this book of hours.'
Technical
Specific in manuscript studies, codicology, conservation: 'The quiring of the book of hours suggests it was rebound in the 17th century.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “book of hours”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “book of hours”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “book of hours”
- Using it to refer to a modern appointment diary or planner.
- Saying 'books of hour' (incorrect plural).
- Confusing it with a Bible or a missal.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while Latin was common, especially for the core prayers, many were produced in vernacular languages like French, English, or Dutch for noble patrons.
Primarily wealthy lay people – nobility, merchants, and gentry – who could afford such expensive, handmade items for private prayer.
A breviary is the official liturgical book containing the Divine Office for clergy and monastics. A book of hours is a simplified, adapted version for the laity, focusing on the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Because they are structured around the eight canonical hours of the liturgical day (e.g., Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, Compline), providing prayers for each.
A Christian liturgical book containing prayers, psalms, and devotional texts to be recited at the eight canonical hours of the day, popular in the Middle Ages.
Book of hours is usually formal, academic, historical, art historical, religious studies in register.
Book of hours: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbʊk əv ˈaʊəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbʊk əv ˈaʊ(ə)rz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A BOOK for telling time (HOURS) of prayer, not clock time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A DEVOTIONAL PATH (the hours structure the day's spiritual journey); THE BOOK IS A PORTABLE CHAPEL.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'book of hours' primarily?