-ələ̇st noun
( -s )
1. : one skilled in or attached to a ritual : one who studies ritual
2.
a. : one who advocates or practices the increased use of religious ritual especially to an extent often deemed excessive by others
b. usually capitalized : a member of the High Church party in the Anglican communion
3. : one rigidly conforming to established procedures or institutional norms
the syndrome of the social ritualist — R.K.Merton
like a trout fisherman he is a fanatical ritualist — Bernard DeVoto