votary vs adherent

votary and adherent both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
votary	Yes	No	No	No
adherent	Yes	Yes	No	No

As nouns, adherent is a hypernym of votary; that is, adherent is a word with a broader meaning than votary:

votary: a devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity
adherent: someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another

Other hypernyms of votary include disciple.

votary (noun)	adherent (noun)
one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service	someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another
a priest or priestess (or consecrated worshipper) in a non-Christian religion or cult
a devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity

votary (adjective)	adherent (adjective)
	sticking fast