consecrate

To consecrate is to declare something holy.

(verb)

An example of consecrate is when a cemetery is named holy ground.
An example of consecrate is when bread and wine are made into the body and blood of Christ for communion.

See consecrate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

1. to set apart as holy; make or declare sacred for religious use
2. to make (someone) a bishop, ruler, etc. by a religious ceremony
to devote entirely; dedicate: to consecrate one's life to art
to cause to be revered or honored; hallow: ground consecrated by their martyrdom

Origin: ME consecraten < L consecratus, pp. of consecrare < com-, together + sacrare: see sacred

adjective

Archaic consecrated

Related Forms:

See consecrate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb con·se·crat·ed, con·se·crat·ing, con·se·crates

To declare or set apart as sacred: consecrate a church.
Christianity
a. To produce the ritual transformation of (the elements of the Eucharist) into the body and blood of Jesus.
b. To sanctify (bread and wine) for use in Communion.
c. To initiate (a priest) into the order of bishops.
To dedicate solemnly to a service or goal. See Synonyms at devote.
To make venerable; hallow: a tradition consecrated by time.

adjective

Dedicated to a sacred purpose; sanctified.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English consecraten

Origin: , from Latin cōnsecrāre, cōnsecrāt-

Origin: : com-, intensive pref.; see com-

Origin: + sacrāre, to make sacred (from sacer, sacr-, sacred; see sak- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms: