n.1 a religious or solemn observance or act (burial rites).
2 an action or procedure required or usual in this.
3 a body of customary observances characteristic of a Church or a part of it (the Latin rite).
Phrases and idioms:
rite of passage (often in pl.) a ritual or event marking a stage of a person's advance through life, e.g. marriage.
Derivatives:
riteless adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF rit, rite or L ritus (esp. religious) usage