divine office: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, religious
Quick answer
What does “divine office” mean?
The set of daily prayers prescribed for clergy and religious communities in the Catholic Church and some other Christian traditions, also called the Liturgy of the Hours.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The set of daily prayers prescribed for clergy and religious communities in the Catholic Church and some other Christian traditions, also called the Liturgy of the Hours.
Any prescribed set of prayers or religious observances to be performed at fixed times; more broadly, any official duty considered to be of a sacred or solemn nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or use. Slight variation in the specific Christian denominations that commonly use the term.
Connotations
Evokes medieval monasticism, ritual, and structured prayer life in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to theological, historical, and liturgical discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “divine office” in a Sentence
[Subject] + recites/observes/celebrates + the Divine OfficeThe Divine Office + consists of + [prayers/readings]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “divine office” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The community will divine the will of God through prayer and study.
- He attempted to divine the source of the problem.
American English
- She tried to divine his intentions from his expression.
- The old well was used to divine for water.
adverb
British English
- The music was divinely beautiful.
- He was divinely inspired.
American English
- She sang divinely.
- The plan worked out divinely.
adjective
British English
- They sought divine intervention.
- The cathedral had a divine atmosphere.
American English
- The dessert was simply divine.
- They believed in divine providence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, and liturgical studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A technical term in Catholic liturgy and ecclesiology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “divine office”
- Using it to refer to a priest's physical office or study.
- Using it in a non-religious context (e.g., 'my divine office is to finish this report').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Mass is the central Eucharistic liturgy. The Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) is a separate cycle of prayers, psalms, and readings for sanctifying different times of the day.
Yes, while it is an obligation for clergy and some religious, lay Catholics and other Christians are encouraged to participate in or pray parts of the Liturgy of the Hours.
The major hours are Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Vespers (Evening Prayer). Other hours include the Office of Readings, Terce, Sext, None, and Compline (Night Prayer).
A 'Breviary' is the physical book containing the texts for the Divine Office. The term is often used metonymically to refer to the prayer practice itself.
The set of daily prayers prescribed for clergy and religious communities in the Catholic Church and some other Christian traditions, also called the Liturgy of the Hours.
Divine office is usually formal, religious in register.
Divine office: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˌvaɪn ˈɒfɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˌvaɪn ˈɔːfɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as regular/faithful as) the Divine Office – used to imply unwavering routine or punctuality.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DIVINE (godly) OFFICE where the work is prayer at set hours.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRAYER IS DUTIFUL LABOUR / THE CHURCH IS A CORPORATION (with a sacred 'office' to attend).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'Divine Office' be LEAST appropriate?