Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VO'TA-RY, n.

One devoted, consecrated or engaged by vow or promise; hence more generally, one devoted, given or addicted to some particular service, worship, study or state of life. Every goddess of antiquity had her votaries. Every pursuit or study has now its votaries. One is a votary to mathematics, another is a votary to music, and alas, a great portion of the world are votaries of sensual pleasures. It was the coldness of the rotary, not the prayer, which was in fault. – Fell.