consecrate

[ kon-si-kreyt ]

verb (used with object)

, con·se·crat·ed, con·se·crat·ing.

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

/ ˌkɒnsɪˈkreɪtərɪ; ˈkɒnsɪˌkreɪt /

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

Derived Forms

• consecratory, adjective
• ˌconseˈcration, noun
• ˈconseˌcrator, noun

Other Words From

• con·se·cra·tor con·se·crat·er noun
• con·se·cra·to·ry [kon, -si-kr, uh, -tawr-ee], con·se·cra·tive adjective
• de·con·se·crate verb (used with object) deconsecrated deconsecrating
• pre·con·se·crate verb (used with object) preconsecrated preconsecrating
• re·con·se·crate verb (used with object) reconsecrated reconsecrating
• un·con·se·cra·tive adjective

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

Let his countrymen consecrate the memory of the heroic general, the patriotic statesman, and the virtuous sage.

From Project Gutenberg

These divinest poets consecrate the spot, and throw a reflected glory over the humblest of their companions.

From Project Gutenberg

For to what but to felicity should men consecrate themselves, were felicity a goddess?

From Project Gutenberg

Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate it.

From Project Gutenberg

It is all consecrated but one thing, and I can't consecrate that.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beatify
• bless
• dedicate
• ordain
• sanctify