viaticum

noun /vʌɪˈatɪkəm/

1. The Eucharist, when given to a person who is dying or one in danger of death.

   […]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.

   figuratively

   Towards night-fall he entered a town called Sa’adiyah where he alighted and took out somewhat of his viaticum and ate.

3. A portable altar.

Where it comes from

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

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry viaticum (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← vesturevibecession →

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