consecrate definition

English consecrate definition

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin cōnsecrāre, cōnsecrātus.

Pronunciation

• Verb
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒnsəkɹeɪt/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

  • (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑnsəkɹeɪt/
• Adjective
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒnsəkɹət/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

  • (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑnsəkɹət/
• Hyphenation: con‧se‧crate

Verb

consecrate (third-person singular simple present consecrates, present participle consecrating, simple past and past participle consecrated)

1. (transitive) To declare something holy, or make it holy by some procedure.

   Synonyms: behallow, hallow; see also Thesaurus:consecrate

   Antonyms: desecrate, defile; see also Thesaurus:desecrate

   • 1863 November 19, Abraham Lincoln, Dedicatory Remarks (Gettysburg Address)‎^[1], near Soldiers' National Cemetery, LCCN n94107481, Bliss copy, page 2:

     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.

2. (transitive, Roman Catholicism, specifically) To ordain as a bishop.

Related terms

• consecration

Translations

Adjective

consecrate (comparative more consecrate, superlative most consecrate)

1. Consecrated; devoted; dedicated; sacred.
   • 1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, OCLC 1086746628:

     They were assembled in that consecrate place.

Anagrams

• concreates

Latin consecrate definition

Verb

cōnsecrāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of cōnsecrō