Masonic Words in many of Freemasonry's old ritual books have become somewhat archaic (seldom used in our modern language).
Since we do not use many of them in our everyday speech; we may be a bit unsure of their exact meaning. ..even if we dislike to admit it.
However, their meanings are very important for us to truly "feel" Freemasonry's power, its beauty and its truths.
Below are many of the archaic Masonic words used in Masonic ritual in the United States.
The following poem is by Walter K. Belt, from "A Masonic Thought For Each Day of the Year", Missouri Lodge of Research, Volume 28, by Alphonse Cerza, published in 1971, copyrighted in 1972.
It speaks to us of the necessity to not only speak and learn the Masonic words of the craft, but to learn the meaning of these Masonic words and phrases.
A to Z
We should know every letter
In our Craft's alphabet;
And some of them are better
Than others are, and yet
Each one as an initial
Some phase of brotherhood
may show as beneficial,
And all of them are good.
If we would praise be earning,
We'll let our brothers see
We have sufficient learning
To go from A to Z.
Then let us all work harder,
Show how we really feel.
Yes, let us start with Ardor,
And let us end with Zeal.
Masonic words in Everyday Language: Like most words in the English language, many of the Masonic words within the Craft, below, have multiple meanings, e.g.: "Manifold": Vehicle engines have manifolds, however Masonically, the word "Manifold" denotes a whole entity which is composed of many and diverse elements.
The reason for this is because as our English language has changed over the years, many of these Masonic words have fallen into disuse.
If there are multiple meanings of Masonic words, they have been omitted, to provide you with a basic Fast Track, (easy-to-learn), Fat Free (non-wordy) understanding of their Masonic meanings, only, and so, to assist you in your quest for light.
Masonic Words
Ardor:
Fiery intensity of feeling.
Admonish:
To gently and constructively counsel another person.
Allegory
A literary style that uses symbols, characters or events to suggestively represent an abstract idea.
Allude
A hint. To make a somewhat disguised reference about a person, place or thing.
Archaic
Out of use. So extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period.
Aspersion
An unfavorable or damaging remark.
Barbarous
Lacking refinement or culture. Coarse, very cruel, savage.
Benediction
A ceremonial prayer requesting divine protection
Beneficent
A benefit. Doing or producing good.
Beseech
To earnestly ask or request.
Bourne
An archaic term for a goal or destination
Candor
Candid. The quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech.
Celestial
Relating to Heaven or the spirit.
Censure
Harsh criticism or disapproval.
Circumscribe
To draw a line or a boundary around.
Circumspection
Knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress by being prudent.
Conciliates
Compromise. The ability to come to terms in the interests of obtaining good will.
Conform
The ability to adapt oneself.
Consecrated
Solemnly dedicated to or set apart for a high purpose, usually a Holy purpose.
Contrive
To come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort.
Convex
Curving or bulging outward.
Countenance
Consent to or give permission.
Cowans
Profanes, pretenders, intruders, eavesdroppers. Those seeking to obtain the Masonic words and secrets ofMasonry without having been admitted to the fraternity.
Delineate
To accurately depict a shape. To draw or trace the outline of; sketch out.
Deluge
An overwhelming number or amount of an item;..as in a deluge of rain.
Demean
To reduce in worth or character.
Deportment
A manner of personal conduct or behavior.
Derogatory
Implies contempt or disapproval, ...such as a derogatory remark.
Diligent
Taking care, patience and perseverance in carrying out tasks.
Discerning
Having, revealing and exercising keen insight and good judgment.
Discordant
Conflicting. Not in agreement or harmony.
Discreet
Tactful. Good at keeping secrets, or subtle and unobtrusive.
Diurnal
Occurring in the daytime. Belonging to the period of daylight. (This is one of the Masonic words which few people understand its meaning.)
Divest
To deprive, remove or take away possessions from someone.
Eavesdropper
One who stands under the eaves, or near the window or door of a house, to listen; hence, a secret listener.
Ecliptic
Astronomic plane containing the Earth's orbit about the Sun. An imaginary line followed on the earth's surface by the direct ray of the Sun during the year. Solomon's temple, located in Jerusalem, is north of this line.
Edifice
A building. Especially a large or impressive one.
Emblematic
Serving as a visible symbol for something abstract; e.g.: as a crown is emblematic of royalty.
Emulation
To copy. An effort made to imitate another person's actions.
Endue
To endow. To provide with a quality or trait.
Esteem
To regard with respect and consideration.
Exalted
Noble. Elevated in rank, character, or status.
Exhort
To make an urgent appeal.
Expedient
Practical. Most appropriate to a purpose.
Fallacy
A false, erroneous or mistaken idea.
Fervency
Feelings of great warmth and intensity.
Firmament
The vault or expanse of the heavens; the sky.
Fruition
To bear fruit. To fulfill.
Grand Artificer
Deity. Creator of the Universe. Master Architect. God, Allah, YHWH, etc..
Homage
Expression of high regard. Showing respect or attesting to the worth or influence of another person.
Hypocrisy
Falsely assuming the appearance of virtue or religion.
Immemorial
Extending back or existing since beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition. Example: Time immemorial.
Implore
To earnestly call or pray for.
Inclemencies
Physical severity or harshness (commonly in respect to the elements or weather); roughness; storminess; rigor; severe cold, wind, rain, or snow.
Inculcated
To be taught. To implant by repeated statement or admonition; teach persistently and earnestly.
Incumbent
Obligatory. A duty to which one is obliged to perform.
Indissoluble
Firm. Stable. Incapable of being dissolved, decomposed or destroyed.
Ineffable
Not to be spoken because of its sacredness. Unutterable: such as the ineffable name of the Deity.
Insidious
Stealthily treacherous or deceitful.
Inundation
To overwhelm. To flood.
Invoking
To call on for aid or protection; to invite earnestly or solemnly; to summon; to address in prayer; to solicit or demand by invocation; to implore; as, to invoke the Supreme Being, or to invoke (appeal for) His blessing.
Laudable
Deserving commendation; praiseworthy.
Licentious
Illegal or Immoral. Disregard of rules.
Manifold
A whole entity which is composed of many and diverse elements. Ex: Manifold destiny.
Mercenary
Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.
To impose excessive burdens upon; to overload; hence, to treat with unjust rigor.
Palliate
To try to mitigate, lessen, cover for or conceal the gravity of (an offense) by excuses, apologies, etc.
Patronize
Regularly attend.
Pervade
Permeate, diffuse. To spread through.
Pilasters
An ornamental and structural column that usually projects about a third of its width from the wall to which it is attached and contains a base and a capital (ornamental piece) on top. A pilaster is part of a wall, whereas a column is free-standing.
Pious
Reverence. Having or showing strong religious feelings and devotion toward the Creator.
Precepts
A rule or principle prescribing a particular course of action or conduct.
Prone
Lying flat. Prostrate.
Prudent
Wise in handling practical matters; exercising good judgment or common sense.
Careful in regard to one's own interests; provident.
Careful about one's conduct; circumspect.
Prudential
Wise. Exercising good judgment and common sense.
Recapitulate
Summary. To repeat in a concise form. Short form. Recap.
Rectitude
Rightness. Correctness of conduct and principle.
Reformation
Improvement. Betterment. Correction of an imperfect state. Reform.
Reign
Rule. To have control, or influence over.
Reprehend
Reprimand. Disapprove.
Reverential
Honor. Esteem, Revere, Adore. A feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe.
Salutary
Wholesome. Promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose. A purpose which deserves a salute.
Seraphic
A pure, angelic and burning love or ardor. A Seraphim is one of a class of celestial beings with 6 wings...some believe they are the first of the nine classes of angels.
They are mentioned in the Old Testament in Issaiah. 6:2, 3, 6, 7. Seraph means "fiery ones", an allusion, it is supposed, to their burning love. They are represented as "standing"..."hovering"?... above the King as he sat upon his throne, ready at once to minister unto him. Their form appears to have been human, with the addition of their 3 sets of wings.
Shewbread
Showbread. 1 Sam. 21:1-6. This bread consisted of twelve loaves made of the finest flour. They were flat and thin, and were placed in two rows of six each on a table in the holy place before the Lord.
They were renewed every Sabbath (Lev. 24:5-9), and those that were removed to give place to the new ones were to be eaten by the priests only in the holy place (see 1 Sam. 21:3-6; comp. Matt. 12:3, 4).
The number of the loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and also the entire spiritual Israel, "the true Israel;" and the placing of them on the table symbolized the entire consecration of Israel to the Lord, and their acceptance of God as their God.
The table for the bread was made of acacia wood, 3 feet long, 18 inches broad, and 2 feet 3 inches high. It was plated with pure gold. Two staves, plated with gold, passed through golden rings, were used for carrying it.
Shewed
Showed. An archaic word meaning to show, display or exhibit.
Solicit
Request. To petition for something which is desired.
Sublime
Ultimate. The greatest or most supreme and elevated degree. Awe-inspiring. Exalted.
Subservient
Useful. Serving or acting in a subordinate capacity through a sense of duty. Compliant and obedient to authority because of a deep understanding of the whole.
Subsisted
To Exist. To Be.
Sundry
Various and Diverse. Many.
Superficies
Superficial. Outward appearance. Shallow. Without depth. Residing on a single plane.
Superfluities
Excesses. That which is not needed.
Sustenance
Nourishment. That which is needed to sustain life.
Symmetry
Beauty as a result of balance and a harmonious arrangement. Excellence of proportion. Regularity of form or arrangement in terms of like, reciprocal, or corresponding parts.
Synonomous
Synonymous. Same. Like. Expressing or implying the same idea.
Tabernacle
A place of worship. Shelter. A temporary dwelling place.
Temperate
Moderate. Not extreme in behavior.
Tempest
Violent disturbance such as a storm or tornado.
Temporal
Temporary. For a limited time.
Tenets
Principles.
Tesselated
Checkered. Pertaining to or like mosaic tiling. The word "tessella" means small square.
Unbiased
Fair and impartial. Without bias.
Unfeigned
Real. Sincere. Unfaked.
Unsullied
Pure. Honorable. Clean. Untainted.
Venerable
Extremely old. Worthy of Respect. Revered.
Vertex
The highest point of something. The point of intersection of lines or the point opposite the base of a figure, as the top point of a triangle or a mountain.
Vicissitudes
Changes. Fluctuations. Variations.
Vouchsafe
To promise or agree, condescendingly, because it is in your power; to bestow a special favor. To vouch as safe.
Waft
Cause to move to and fro.
Wrought
Created. Made. Designed.
Zeal
With passion. Fervor. Eager and ardent interest in pursuit of something.
Go Dark The Masonic words "go dark" have a two fold meaning. Click on the link to read more about it.
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