Either way, does that truly match the authors meaning of the word?

Yes and not. Depends.Especially depends of precision author tries to explain his/her view.

Ritual like words might leed other way than predicted/believed. Practice could be repeated wrong way or misunderstood. Understanding is limited by abilities of those who learn.

Again key meme: Plato's cave. Look at Plato's cave idea (you not need in original),it represent truth about ideas perception. Are ideas primary or not - it is not matter in my view.

Plato's cave & ideas. Word,Ritual,Practice = reflections on wall. Understanding = seeing those reflections.

Either way, does that truly match the authors meaning of the word?

Yes and not. Depends.Especially depends of precision author tries to explain his/her view.

Ritual like words might leed other way than predicted/believed. Practice could be repeated wrong way or misunderstood. Understanding is limited by abilities of those who learn.

Again key meme: Plato's cave. Look at Plato's cave idea (you not need in original),it represent truth about ideas perception. Are ideas primary or not - it is not matter here.

Plato's cave & ideas. Word,Ritual,Practice = reflections on wall. Understanding = seeing those reflections.