consecrate means to declare something holy, or make it holy by some procedure. It carries an Arena rating of 1648, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, consecrate ranks #3,611 of 14,322 for Scariest Words, #7,152 of 14,445 for Most Beautiful Words, #7,156 of 14,410 for Most Ponderous Words, #7,171 of 14,448 for Most Incisive Words.
consecrate is pronounced /ˈkɒnsəkɹeɪt/.
Why “consecrate” is a great word
To make or declare something sacred, especially through a formal religious rite. From Middle English *consecraten*, from Latin *consecratus*, past participle of *consecrare* (“to make holy, devote”), from *con-* (“thoroughly”) + *sacrare* (“to make sacred”), from *sacer* (“sacred”); first attested in the late 14th century. Unlike “dedicate” (which sets something apart for a purpose, often secular) or “desecrate” (which profanes the holy), to consecrate is the deliberate alchemy of ritual, transforming the ordinary into a vessel for the divine. It is the bishop’s hands anointing the cold stone of an altar, the murmured Latin that turns bread and wine into something else entirely, the hush of breath before the first note of a liturgy—a human attempt to whisper permanence into the transient world.
Etymology
First attested in the late 14ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English consecrat(e) (“consecrated”), used as the past participle of consecraten (“to dedicate, consecrate (an altar, church); to ordain (a bishop), anoint (a king, a pope); to devote one to religious life”); see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more. Regular participial usage up until Early Modern English.
verb
- To declare something holy, or make it holy by some procedure.“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.”
- To ordain as a bishop.
- To commit (oneself or one's time) solemnly to some aim or task.
adj
- Consecrated.“Led to the city consecrate to Mars.”
- Consecrated, devoted, dedicated, sacred.“And that this body conſecrate to thee,
By Ruffian Luſt ſhould be contaminate!”
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