definitions

consecrate

[ kon-si-kreyt ]
/ ˈkɒn sɪˌkreɪt /
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verb (used with object), con·se·crat·ed, con·se·crat·ing.

to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity: to consecrate a new church building.
to make (something) an object of honor or veneration; hallow: a custom consecrated by time.
to devote or dedicate to some purpose: a life consecrated to science.
to admit or ordain to a sacred office, especially to the episcopate.
to change (bread and wine) into the Eucharist.

adjective

consecrated; sacred.

Nearby words

conscript, conscript fathers, conscriptee, conscription, conscriptionist, consecrate, consecration, consecution, consecutive, consecutive anophthalmia, consensual

Origin of consecrate

1325–75; Middle English consecraten < Latin consecrātus (past participle of consecrāre), equivalent to con- con- + -secr- (variant, in non-initial syllables, of sacer) sacred, holy + -ātus -ate1

Related forms

Synonym study

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

British Dictionary definitions for consecrate

consecrate

/ (ˈkɒnsɪˌkreɪt) /

verb (tr)

to make or declare sacred or holy; sanctify
to dedicate (one's life, time, etc) to a specific purpose
to ordain (a bishop)
Christianity to sanctify (bread and wine) for the Eucharist to be received as the body and blood of Christ
to cause to be respected or revered; veneratetime has consecrated this custom

adjective

archaic consecrated

Derived Forms

consecration, nounconsecrator, nounconsecratory (ˌkɒnsɪˈkreɪtərɪ) or consecrative, adjective

Word Origin for consecrate

C15: from Latin consecrāre, from com- (intensive) + sacrāre to devote, from sacer sacred
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