a. and sb. [ad. L. vōtīv-us performed, offered, etc., in consequence of a vow, f. vōt-um vow VOTE sb. Hence also It., Sp., Pg. votivo, F. votif, -ive.]
A. adj. † 1. Of persons: Carrying out a vow; devout. Obs. rare.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 57. That Sepulchre you see is but a thing built vp by Saracens to get mony with, and beguile votiue Christians.
2. Dedicated, consecrated, offered, erected, etc., in consequence of, or in fulfilment of, a vow.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VI. xxx. § 2. 126. Which votiue Altar was erected by the Troupe of Horsemen surnamed Augusta Gordiana.
1616. B. Jonson, Poetaster, Dial. Hor. & Treb., 57. So that the old man’s life described, was seen As in a votive table in his lines.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. § 23. 400. Those Last Dying words … wherein he required his friends to offer a Votive Cock for him to Æsculapius.
1702. Addison, Dial. Medals (1726), 136. Sacred to Mars these votive spoils proclaim The fate of Asdrubal, and Scipio’s fame.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), II. 230. A marble boat placed before the church, and said to be a votive piece, as an acknowledgement for deliverance in a storm.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 152. The jewels given as votive offerings.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 233. It is a pious custom,… to honour the memory of saints by votive lights burnt before their pictures.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., II. 343. In a third class, which embraces most of the votive pictures, the Virgin and Child are exhibited in glory.
1853. Humphreys, Coin-coll. Man., xxiv. 357. The altars for Apollo were besieged with votive offerings for the staying of the pestilence.
b. Observed, practised, undertaken, etc., in consequence of a vow.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. [I.] lxxxv. 246. Votiue Abstinence, some cold constitutions may endure.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, I. 181. Whence inspiration for a song that winds Through ever changing scenes of votive quest Wrongs to redress.
1876. Stedman, Victorian Poets, 397. A knight tilting at a wayside tournament as he rides on his votive quest.
c. Of the nature of a vow. rare–1.
a. 1626. A. Lake, Serm. (1641), 116. The King bindeth himselfe to make good his duty with a Votive Oath.
3. Consisting in, expressive of, a vow, desire or wish.
1597. Middleton, Wisd. Solomon, ix. 8. When I command, the people do obey, Submissive subjects to my votive will.
1629. J. Gaule (title), Practiqve Theories: or, Votiue Speculations upon Christs Prediction, Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection.
1641. Sanderson, Serm. (1689), 537. The sence hangeth unperfect, unless we take in the former verse too. Both together contain a Votive Prayer or Benediction.
1824. Wordsw., ‘O for a dirge,’ 9. No tears of passionate regret Shall stain this votive lay. Ibid. (1835), To Moon, 34. The fanes Extinct that echoed to the votive strains.
† b. = VOTAL a. 1. Obs.–1
1664. Jer. Taylor, Dissuas. Popery, I. ii. § 1. 80. A man, by contrition is not reconcil’d to God, without their Sacramental or Ritual penance, actual or votive.
4. Votive mass (see quot. 1881).
1738. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Mass, Votive Mass, is an extraordinary Mass besides that of the day, rehearsed on some extraordinary occasion.
1853. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. 161. The Catholic priest will find in his Missal … those votive Masses as they were … allotted each one to its own day of the week, by Alcuin.
1881. Bridgett, Hist. Holy Eucharist, I. 200. Masses have also been composed for special occasions, and are called votive masses, because said according to the votum, i. e. the intention or desire of the celebrant.
B. sb. A votive offering. rare–1.
1646. Shirley, To T. Stanley. A palsy shakes my pen while I intend A votive to thy muse.
Hence Votively adv., in a votive manner.
1847. Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. 237. Fruits placed votively on the shrine.
