immolate

[ im-uh-leyt ]

/ ˈɪm əˌleɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR immolate ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Words nearby immolate

immoderacy, immoderate, immoderation, immodest, immokalee, immolate, immolation, immoral, immoralism, immoralist, immorality

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

OTHER WORDS FROM immolate

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH immolate

emulate immolate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
After sacrificing the greater animals, then we immolate the others.
Diderot and the Encyclopdists|John Morley
Perhaps it was her destiny to immolate herself for duty to the end.
The Readjustment|Will Irwin

They went so far as to immolate their own children on the altars of evil deities, in order to appease them.
Pagan Origin of Partialist Doctrines|John Claudius Pitrat
How soon does she propose to immolate her victim on the altar of sacrifice?
The Bride of the Tomb and Queenie's Terrible Secret|Mrs. Alexander McVeigh Miller
Woe to the nation that disregards it, and consents to immolate its principles to its interests!
The Uprising of a Great People|Count Agnor de Gasparin

British Dictionary definitions for immolate

immolate

/ (ˈɪməʊˌleɪt) /

verb (tr)

to kill or offer as a sacrifice, esp by fire

literary to sacrifice (something highly valued)

Derived forms of immolate

immolation, 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

immolate

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

Words related to immolate

Words nearby immolate

Origin of immolate

OTHER WORDS FROM immolate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH immolate

Examples from the Web for immolate

British Dictionary definitions for immolate

verb (tr)

Derived forms of immolate

Word Origin for immolate