Adjacent Words

Consecrate definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CONSECRATE, v.t. [L., to consecrate, sacred. See Sacred.]
1. To make or declare to be sacred, by certain ceremonies or rites; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service and worship of God; as, to consecrate a church.
Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. Exodus 29.
All the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated to the Lord. Josh 6.
2. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll among the gods, as a Roman emperor.
3. To set apart and bless the elements in the eucharist.
4. To render venerable; to make respected; as, rules or principles consecrated by time.
CONSECRATE, a. Sacred; consecrated; devoted; dedicated.
They were assembled in that consecrate place.
[This word is now seldom used, unless in poetry.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: solemnly dedicated to or set apart for a high purpose; "a life consecrated to science"; "the consecrated chapel"; "a chapel dedicated to the dead of World War II" [syn: consecrated, consecrate, dedicated] [ant: desecrated] v
1: appoint to a clerical posts; "he was ordained in the Church" [syn: ordain, consecrate, ordinate, order]
2: give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause; "She committed herself to the work of God"; "give one's talents to a good cause"; "consecrate your life to the church" [syn: give, dedicate, consecrate, commit, devote]
3: dedicate to a deity by a vow [syn: vow, consecrate]
4: render holy by means of religious rites [syn: consecrate, bless, hallow, sanctify] [ant: deconsecrate, desecrate, unhallow]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Date: 14th century dedicated to a sacred purpose II. transitive verb (-crated; -crating) Etymology: Middle English, from Latin consecratus, past participle of consecrare, from com- + sacrare to consecrate — more at sacred Date: 14th century 1. to induct (a person) into a permanent office with a religious rite; especially to ordain to the office of bishop 2. a. to make or declare sacred; especially to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony b. to effect the liturgical transubstantiation of (eucharistic bread and wine) c. to devote to a purpose with or as if with deep solemnity or dedication 3. to make inviolable or venerable <principles consecrated by the weight of history> Synonyms: see devote • consecrative adjective • consecrator noun • consecratory adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. 1 make or declare sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose. 2 (in Christian belief) make (bread and wine) into the body and blood of Christ. 3 (foll. by to) devote (one's life etc.) to (a purpose). 4 ordain (esp. a bishop) to a sacred office. Derivatives: consecration n. consecrator n. consecratory adj. Etymology: ME f. L consecrare (as com-, secrare = sacrare dedicate f. sacer sacred)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Consecrate Con"se*crate, a. [L. consceratus, p. p. of conscerare to conscerate; con- + sacrare to consecrate, sacer sacred. See Sacred.] Consecrated; devoted; dedicated; sacred. They were assembled in that consecrate place. --Bacon.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Consecrate Con"se*crate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Consecrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Consecrating.] 1. To make, or declare to be, sacred; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service or worship of God; as, to consecrate a church; to give (one's self) unreservedly, as to the service of God. One day in the week is . . . consecrated to a holy rest. --Sharp. 2. To set apart to a sacred office; as, to consecrate a bishop. Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. --Ex. xxix. 9. 3. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll among the gods, as a Roman emperor. 4. To render venerable or revered; to hallow; to dignify; as, rules or principles consecrated by time. --Burke. Syn: See Addict.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(consecrates, consecrating, consecrated) When a building, place, or object is consecrated, it is officially declared to be holy. When a person is consecrated, they are officially declared to be a bishop. The church was consecrated in 1234... He defied Pope John Paul II by consecrating four bishops without his approval. VERB: be V-ed, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Dedicate, devote, ordain, set apart as sacred, appropriate to sacred uses. 2. Hallow, sanctify, make or render venerable or reverend.