sacrament
The definition of a sacrament is a religious ceremony recognized by the Christian church, or a rite of passage that infers some blessing or grace on people who receive it.
(noun)Baptism is an example of a sacrament in the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches.
See sacrament in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- Christianity any of certain rites instituted by Jesus and believed to be means of grace: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick are the seven recognized by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches; Protestants generally recognize only baptism and the Lord's Supper (the Eucharist)
- the Eucharist, or Holy Communion; also, the consecrated bread and wine, or sometimes the bread alone, used in the Eucharist
- something regarded as having a sacred character or mysterious meaning
- Archaic
- a symbol or token
- a solemn oath or pledge
Origin: ME < OFr sacrement < LL(Ec) sacramentum, the gospel, a secret, sacrament (used as transl. of Gr mystērion) < L, an oath of allegiance, orig., sum deposited by the two parties to a suit < sacrare, to consecrate < sacer, sacred
See sacrament in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- Christianity A rite believed to be a means of or visible form of grace, especially:a. In the Eastern, Roman Catholic, and some other Western Christian churches, any of the traditional seven rites that were instituted by Jesus and recorded in the New Testament and that confer sanctifying grace.b. In most other Western Christian churches, the two rites, Baptism and the Eucharist, that were instituted by Jesus to confer sanctifying grace.
- A religious rite similar to a Christian sacrament, as in character or meaning.
- often Sacramenta. The Eucharist.b. The consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread or host.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old French sacrement
Origin: , from Late Latin sacrāmentum
Origin: , from Latin, oath
Origin: , from sacrāre, to consecrate
Origin: , from sacer, sacr-, sacred; see sacred
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