noun

oratory

A small chapel or private place for prayer.

She kneels in the small oratory to pray each morning.

Etymology

Latin oratorium means a place of prayer. The noun preserves that purpose for a small chapel or private room set aside for worship.

More examples

  • The family uses an upstairs room as a private oratory.
  • Visitors may enter the monastery's oratory for quiet prayer.
  • Both houses have small oratories with simple wooden benches.

Forms

oratory · oratories

Similar words

chapel
A place for Christian worship, not necessarily small or private.
sanctuary
A sacred place or main worship area, often much larger.