consecrate

[kon-si-kreyt]

verb (used with object)

consecrated, consecrating 

1. to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity.

   to consecrate a new church building.

   Antonyms: desecrate

2. to make (something) an object of honor or veneration; hallow.

   a custom consecrated by time.

   Synonyms: venerate, sanctify

3. to devote or dedicate to some purpose.

   a life consecrated to science.

4. to admit or ordain to a sacred office, especially to the episcopate.

5. to change (bread and wine) into the Eucharist.

adjective

1. consecrated; sacred

consecrate

/ ˈkɒnsɪˌkreɪt, ˌkɒnsɪˈkreɪtərɪ /

verb

1. to make or declare sacred or holy; sanctify

2. to dedicate (one's life, time, etc) to a specific purpose

3. to ordain (a bishop)

4. Christianity to sanctify (bread and wine) for the Eucharist to be received as the body and blood of Christ

5. to cause to be respected or revered; venerate

   time has consecrated this custom

adjective

1. archaic,  consecrated

Other Word Forms

• consecrator noun
• consecrater noun
• consecratory adjective
• consecrative adjective
• deconsecrate verb (used with object)
• preconsecrate verb (used with object)
• reconsecrate verb (used with object)
• unconsecrative adjective
• consecration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of consecrate¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English consecraten, from Latin consecrātus (past participle of consecrāre ), equivalent to con- + -secr- (variant, in noninitial syllables, of sacer “consecrated, holy”) + -ātus, past participle suffix; con-, sacred, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of consecrate¹

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

Synonym Study

See devote. See holy.

Example Sentences

It consecrated a swathe of measures, including climate finance and resilience goals, to help those who are least responsible for warming but often hardest hit.

Read more on Barron's

Many conservative Christians believe that only men should be consecrated as bishops.

Read more on BBC

He uncovered relics inscribed and consecrated nearly 2,000 years ago.

Read more on BBC

It has been placed on Unesco's World Heritage list, along with some of Gaudi's other works, and was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Read more on BBC

Later that evening, Rocky himself made an appearance, effectively consecrating his own corner of the fair and Design.Space as a whole.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beatify 
• bless 
• dedicate 
• ordain 
• sanctify