Viaticum

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /vʌɪˈatɪkÉ™m/

Origin

From Latin viāticum ("travelling-money, provisions for a journey"), from viāticus ("of a road or journey"), from via ("road").

Full definition of viaticum

Noun

1. The Eucharist, when given to a person who is dying or one in danger of death.
• 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, p. 37:from Anglo-Saxon times there had been a deep conviction that to receive the viaticum was a virtual death sentence which would make subsequent recovery impossible.
2. Provisions, money, or other supplies given to someone setting off on a long journey (often figurative).
• 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 20:Towards night-fall he entered a town called Sa’adiyah where he alighted and took out somewhat of his viaticum and ate
• 1971, Anthony Burgess, M/F, Penguin 2004, p. 184:That viaticum I had been made to drink had undoubtedly been spiked with cantharides or something