immolate

[im-uh-leyt]

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verb (used with object), im·mo·lat·ed, im·mo·lat·ing.

to sacrifice.

to kill as a sacrificial victim, as by fire; offer in sacrifice.

to destroy by fire.

Origin of immolate

1540–50; < Latin immolātus, past participle of immolāre to sprinkle with holy meal prior to sacrificing, sacrifice, equivalent to im- im-¹ + mol(a) sacrificial barley cake, literally, millstone (see mill¹) + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsim·mo·la·tor, nounun·im·mo·lat·ed, adjective

Can be confusedemulate immolate

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

Related Words for immolate

suffer, surrender, yield, victimize

Examples from the Web for immolate

Contemporary Examples of immolate

He was threatening to immolate both of them when police ended a standoff by grabbing him.
Indiana Serial Killer’s Confession Was Just the Start
Michael Daly
October 21, 2014
Lastly, President Obama should ask his counterpart what is driving young Tibetan monks and nuns to immolate themselves in protest.
Obama, Don’t Let Xi Forget China’s Human Rights Record
Yang Jianli
June 8, 2013

Historical Examples of immolate

After sacrificing the greater animals, then we immolate the others.
Diderot and the Encyclopdists
John Morley
They were about to immolate a turtle-dove, but the Princess saved its life, and let it fly.
The Frog Prince and Other Stories
Anonymous
Perhaps it was her destiny to immolate herself for duty to the end.
The Readjustment
Will Irwin
One among ms must immolate himself, study the malady, seek its cure.
Egoists
James Huneker
The heads which they have sworn to immolate must be obtained at any cost.
The Human Race
Louis Figuier

British Dictionary definitions for immolate

immolate

verb (tr)

to kill or offer as a sacrifice, esp by fire

literary to sacrifice (something highly valued)

Derived Formsimmolation, nounimmolator, noun

Word Origin for immolate

C16: from Latin immolāre to sprinkle an offering with sacrificial meal, sacrifice, from im- (in) + mola spelt grain; see mill 1

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 immolate

1540s, "to sacrifice, kill as a victim," from Latin immolatus, past participle of immolare "to sacrifice," originally "to sprinkle with sacrificial meal," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + mola (salsa) "(sacrificial) meal," related to molere "to grind" (see mallet). Related: Immolated; immolating.