altar

[awl-ter]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR altar ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an elevated place or structure, as a mound or platform, at which religious rites are performed or on which sacrifices are offered to gods, ancestors, etc.

Ecclesiastical. communion table.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Ara.

(in a dry dock) a ledge for supporting the feet of shorings.

Idioms

lead to the altar, to marry: After a five-year courtship, he led her to the altar.

Origin of altar

before 1000; Middle English alter, altar (influenced by L), auter (< Old French aut(i)er), Old English alter (OE also altar; compare Middle Dutch outaer, Old Saxon, Old Norse altari, Old High German altāri) < Latin altāria (plural), of disputed origin and formation, but probably akin to Latin adolēre to ritually burn, Umbrian uřetu let it burn

Can be confusedaltar alter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for altar

shrine, font, tabernacle, reredos, chantry, retable

Examples from the Web for altar

Contemporary Examples of altar

In a show about single women, Sex and The City was always in a rush to get to the altar—and with a man there waiting.
Why Singles Should Say ‘I Don’t’ to The Self-Marriage Movement
Tim Teeman
December 30, 2014
They might be surprised how much money they would save on altar bread.
The Great Divide Facing Pope Francis That Only Catholics Understand
Barbie Latza Nadeau
September 21, 2014
When Jack was lying on the altar with the stones, that was really hard for me because I got a bit giggly.
Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey on Cersei Lannister’s Future and That Controversial Rape Scene
Marlow Stern
June 17, 2014
He embraces her and, in a fit of demented anger and frustration, sexually assaults her against the altar of their dead son.
Game of Thrones’ 8 Most WTF Scenes: Twincest Rape, Shadow Baby, George W. Bush’s Head, and More
Marlow Stern
April 26, 2014
The Kingslayer shoves her against the altar of their dead son, and then to the ground beside it.
Game of Thrones’ 8 Most WTF Scenes: Twincest Rape, Shadow Baby, George W. Bush’s Head, and More
Marlow Stern
April 26, 2014

Historical Examples of altar

In the midst of the barrier stood an altar, on the top of which was a brazen eagle.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
The service for him was Sidney, rather awed and very serious, beside the altar.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
He was of the first that were baptized by Father Letrado, and served the altar.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
The Abbe Cornille, having mounted to the altar, had just come down again.
The Dream
Emile Zola
They signed some papers, there by the light of the altar candles.
Fair Margaret
H. Rider Haggard

British Dictionary definitions for altar

altar

noun

a raised place or structure where sacrifices are offered and religious rites performed

(in Christian churches) the communion table

a step in the wall of a dry dock upon which structures supporting a vessel can stand

lead to the altar informal to marry

Word Origin for altar

Old English, from Latin altāria (plural) altar, from altus high

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for altar

Old English alter, altar, from Latin altare (plural altaria) "high altar, altar for sacrifice to the great gods," perhaps originally meaning "burnt offerings" (cf. Latin adolere "to worship, to offer sacrifice, to honor by burning sacrifices to"), but influenced by Latin altus "high." In Middle English, often auter, from Old French auter. Reintroduced from Latin 1500s. As a symbol of marriage, by 1820.