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sacrament definition

sac·ra·ment (sak′rə mənt)

noun

  1. 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)
  2. the Eucharist, or Holy Communion; also, the consecrated bread and wine, or sometimes the bread alone, used in the Eucharist
  3. something regarded as having a sacred character or mysterious meaning
  4. Archaic
    1. a symbol or token
    2. a solemn oath or pledge

Etymology: 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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sacrament Synonyms

sacrament

n.

  1. Christian rites

    holy observance, ceremonial, ritual, liturgy, act of divine worship, mystery, the mysteries; see also ceremony 2.

    In the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches the seven sacraments are: baptism; confirmation; confession or reconciliation or penance; Holy Communion or the Eucharist; anointing of the sick or the laying on of hands or sacrament of the sick or extreme unction; holy orders; matrimony.

  2. The Eucharist and the bread and wine used in it

    the body and the blood of Christ, holy wafer, the Host, the elements; see communion 2.

  3. A sacred symbol or token

    pledge, bond, vow; see oath 1, promise 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sacrament Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • call: Now in our series on the church we come today to the subject of what are called the sacraments.

Adjective modifier

  • holy: The ointment is the third of the three holy sacraments explained.

Noun used with modifier

  • gospel: The same is true of the promises of God, whether written or spoken or in the form of the gospel sacraments.

Modifies a noun

  • font: St Mary's glorious seven sacrament font - a saving remnant of old Catholic England.
sacrament usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

sacrament quotes

Tantum ergo sacramentum Veneremur cernui; Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui. Therefore we, before him bending, Thisgreat Sacrament revere; Types and shadows have their ending, For the newer rite is here.

-Aquinas, StThomas

sacrament quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"sacrament." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/sacrament>

APA Style

sacrament. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/sacrament

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