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e was figured as a mummy wearing the royal cap of Upper Egypt, and was symbolized by the sacred bull, called Apis. Cf. Serapis. -- O*sir"i*an, a.

dialect descended from Sanskrit, and like that, a dead language, except when used as the sacred language of the Buddhist religion in Farther India, etc.

ally, one who bore a branch of palm as a token that he had visited the Holy Land and its sacred places. Chaucer. Pilgrims and palmers plighted them together. P. Plowman. The pilgrim had some home or dwelling place, the palmer had none. The pilgrim traveled to some certain, designed place or places, but the palmer to al…

A mountain in Greece, sacred to Apollo and the Muses, and famous for a temple of Apollo and for the Castalian spring. Grass of Parnassus. (Bot.) See under Grass, and Parnassia. -- To climb Parnassus, to write poetry. [Colloq.]

f shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones.

A sacred tree (Ficus religiosa) of the Buddhists, a kind of fig tree which attains great size and venerable age. See Bo tree. [Written also pippul tree, and pipal tree.]

Hidden things or secrets; privacy; sanctuary; as, the sacred penetralia of the home.

In land or square measure: A square rod; the 160th part of an acre.

thlessness; teachery. The ambition and perfidy of tyrants. Macaulay. His perfidy to this sacred engagement. DeQuincey.

Piece by piece; by little and little in succession. Piecemeal they win, this acre first, than that. Pope.

of work done, rather than on the time employed. The reaping was piecework, at so much per acre. R. Jefferies.

An easy chariot or carriage, used by Roman ladies, and in which the vessels, etc., for sacred rites were carried.

The journey of a pilgrim; a long journey; especially, a journey to a shrine or other sacred place. Fig., the journey of human life. Shak. The days of the years of my pilgrimage. Gen. xlvii. 9.

one's word and honor. We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. The Declaration of Independence.

To render ceremonially unclean; to disqualify or unfit for sacred use or service, or for social intercourse. Neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die. Num. xviii. 32. They have polluted themselves with blood. Lam. iv. 14.

One of the sacred college, in ancient Rome, which had the supreme jurisdiction over all matters of religion, at the head of which was the Pontifex Maximus. Dr. W. Smith.

A woman who officiated in sacred rites among pagans. Abp. Potter.

Priests, taken collectively; the order of men set apart for sacred offices; the order of priests.

A place of seclusion from company or observation; retreat; solitude; retirement. Her sacred privacies all open lie. Rowe.

The act of violating sacred things, or of treating them with contempt or irreverence; irreverent or too familiar treatment or use of what is sacred; desecration; as, the profanation of the Sabbath; the profanation of a sanctuary; the profanation of the name of God.