beadsman etymology

Etymology

The word "beadsman" comes from the Middle English word "bedesman," which in turn comes from the Old English word "bedesmann" or "gebedesmann." The Old English word is a compound word made up of two elements:

• bede (or gebed), which means "prayer" or "petition"
• mann (or mon), which means "man"

Meaning

A beadsman is a man who prays for another person or for a specific purpose. Beadsmen were often employed by wealthy or noble individuals to pray for their souls or for the souls of their deceased loved ones. They would typically wear a string of beads (hence the name "beadsman") and use them to keep track of their prayers.

Origin

The practice of using beadsmen to pray for the dead originated in the early Middle Ages. It was believed that the prayers of holy men could help to shorten the time that a soul spent in purgatory. As a result, wealthy individuals often made provision in their wills for the employment of beadsmen to pray for their souls after their deaths.

In the later Middle Ages, the practice of using beadsmen became more widespread. Beadsmen were often employed by churches and monasteries to pray for the souls of the faithful. They were also sometimes employed by guilds and other organizations to pray for the success of their enterprises.

The practice of using beadsmen declined in popularity after the Reformation. However, it continued to be practiced in some Catholic countries until the 19th century.

beadsman relate terms

• bead

  Etymology The word bead comes from the Old English word bede which means prayer T

• manslaughter

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• prayer

  Etymology The word prayer comes from the Middle English word preiere which in turn d

• oligarchy

  Etymology Greek oligarchia oligos few arkhos leader Meaning and Origin Ol

• faithful

  Etymology The word faithful is derived from the Old French word fealté which itself

• cultivate

  Etymology Latin colere to tend cultivate Old French cultiver Middle English cul

• disaster

  Etymology The word disaster comes from the Middle French word desastre which in turn

• John

  Etymology Hebrew יוחנן Yōḥānān Meaning God is gracious or Yahweh i

• adjective

  Etymology The word adjective comes from the Latin word adjectivus which means added

• opinion

  Etymology The word opinion originates from the Latin word opinio which means belief

• ring

  Etymology The word ring derives from the Old English word hring which is cognate wit