piacular

American  

[pahy-ak-yuh-ler] / paɪˈæk yə lər /

adjective

1. expiatory; atoning; reparatory.

2. requiring expiation; sinful or wicked.

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piacular British  

/ paɪˈækjʊlə /

adjective

1. making expiation for a sacrilege

2. requiring expiation

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Other Word Forms

• piacularly adverb
• piacularness noun

Etymology

Origin of piacular

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin piāculāris “(of a rite or sacrifice) expiatory, atoning,” equivalent to piācul(um) “expiatory offering, sacrificial victim,” derivative of piā(re) “to propitiate a god, expiate,” derivative of pius “dutiful, faithful (to the gods, one’s country, family, kindred and friends)” + -culum neuter noun suffix for instruments and places + -āris adjective suffix; see -cle ², -ar ¹

Example Sentences

So in the piacular sacrifice when a clearing is made, the unknown deity is addressed in the last words of the prayer thus: "harum rerum ergo macte hoc porco piaculo immolando esto."

From The Religious Experience of the Roman People From the Earliest Times to the Age of Augustus by Fowler, W. Warde

The idea of substitution is widespread among all early religions, and is found in honorific as well as piacular rites.

From The Eliminator; or, Skeleton Keys to Sacerdotal Secrets by Westbrook, Richard B.

In like manner, there is in the illuminated and guilt-smitten conscience an appetency for the piacular work of Christ, as that which alone can give it pacification.

From Sermons to the Natural Man by Shedd, William G. T. (William Greenough Thayer)

Where, on the other hand, the victim is a fellow tribesman, the sacrifice is expiatory or piacular.

From Myth, Ritual and Religion — Volume 1 by Lang, Andrew

The practical Roman mind seems to have invented a kind of sacrificial insurance, by which a piacular sacrifice might be offered beforehand to atone for any omission in the ritual which was to follow.

From The Religious Experience of the Roman People From the Earliest Times to the Age of Augustus by Fowler, W. Warde