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

/ ˈkɒnsɪˌkreɪt; ˌkɒnsɪˈkreɪtərɪ /

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

• ˌconseˈcration, noun
• consecratory, adjective
• 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

Bishop Rachel was consecrated as the 41st Bishop of Gloucester in 2015.

From BBC

These are the kinds of things you hear in line at Telluride, attendees hoping to do some consecrating and electing of their own.

From Los Angeles Times

In circles that emphasize biblical patriarchy, often rooted in the Calvinist or Reformed wing of Christianity, some have suggested that civil government should have no role in consecrating marriage.

From Salon

Each procession is being led by a priest holding a monstrance — typically a sunburst-patterned vessel that displays the host, or bread wafer consecrated by a priest at Mass.

From Seattle Times

Bean boots and a hooded sweatshirt, Rabbi Rachel Isaacs paused to consecrate the ice beneath her feet before she commandeered it for a higher purpose.

From New York Times

Related Words

• beatify
• bless
• dedicate
• ordain
• sanctify