oblation

American  

[o-bley-shuhn] / ɒˈbleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the offering to God of the elements of bread and wine in the Eucharist.

2. the whole office of the Eucharist.

3. the act of making an offering, especially to a deity.

4. any offering for religious or charitable uses.

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oblation British  

/ ˈɒblətərɪ, ɒˈbleɪʃən, -trɪ /

noun

1. the offering of the bread and wine of the Eucharist to God

2. any offering made for religious or charitable purposes

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Other Word Forms

• oblational adjective
• oblatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of oblation

1375–1425; late Middle English oblacion < Late Latin oblātion- (stem of oblātiō ), equivalent to oblāt ( us ) ( see oblate ²) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

An oblation is a donation or offering to a religious institution. When you offer an oblation at church, you are symbolically presenting it to God. While the financial donations made by members of a church, temple, or mosque can be thought of as oblations, the word is often used in the context of Catholicism and a few other Christian denominations to mean "gift to God." During the Eucharist ritual in these churches, bread and wine are symbolically offered to God as an oblation. The Latin root of oblation is oblationem, "an offering, presenting, or gift."

Example Sentences

Purdue dedicated her new Rossade Bowl at Lafayette, Ind., serving up Indiana University as the charred oblation.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then U Nu handed over to newspaper editors two trunks containing his personal effects, and poured an oblation of fresh water in the Buddhist ritual that accompanies an act of charity.

From Time Magazine Archive

Kneeling, she removed her Crown and offered the oblation which custom demands of monarchs: "An ingot or wedge of gold, of a pound weight," and "a pall or altar cloth."

From Time Magazine Archive

Equation A8 adjusted for Earth’s west-to-east rotation and oblation.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

They led us to their Temple in a line; And Nefrekepta gave ox, goose, and wine, And brought to Isis and Harpocrates Rite and oblation and all dues divine.

From The Story of Nefrekepta from a demotic papyrus by Murray, Gilbert