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To bind; to hold by a moral tie. [Obs.] I am combined by a sacred vow. Shak.

The act of calling or summoning by a sacred name, or in solemn manner; the act of binding by an oath; an earnest entreaty; adjuration. We charge you, in the name of God, take heed; . . . Under this conjuration speak, my lord. Shak.

To call on or summon by a sacred name or in solemn manner; to implore earnestly; to adjure. I conjure you, let him know, Whate'er was done against him, Cato did it. Addison.

Consecrated; devoted; dedicated; sacred. They were assembled in that consecrate place. Bacon.

he days of your consecration be at an end. Lev. viii. 33. Consecration makes not a place sacred, but only solemny declares it so. South.

crates; one who performs the rites by which a person or thing is devoted or dedicated to sacred purposes. [Written also consecrater.]

ms most deeds. Milton. The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacred Scripture. Whewell.

A fine linen cloth, on which the sacred elements are consecrated in the eucharist, or with which they are covered; a communion cloth. Corporal oath, a solemn oath; -- so called from the fact that it was the ancient usage for the party taking it to touch the corporal, or cloth that covered the consecrated elements.…

mpure by alterations or innovations; to falsify; as, to corrupt language; to corrupt the sacred text. He that makes an ill use of it [language], though he does not corrupt the fountains of knowledge, . . . yet he stops the pines. Locke.

To deprive of sacredness; to secularize. -- De*con`se*cra"tion, n.

To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses; to devote formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, or a church, to a religious use. Vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, . . . which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord. 2 Sam. viii. 10, 11. We have come to dedicate…

The act of setting apart or consecrating to a divine Being, or to a sacred use, often with religious solemnities; solemn appropriation; as, the dedication of Solomon's temple.

critical; as, a delicate subject or question. There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth. F. W. Robertson.

To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an unworthy use; -- the opposite of consecrate. The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment without being previously desecrated. W. Tooke. The founders of monasteries imprecated evil…

Sacred. [R.] To take her from austerer check of parents, To make her his by most devoutful rights. Marston.

To deprive of consecration or sacredness. [R.]

bsence of esteem for; to regard with disfavor or slight contempt; to slight. But if this sacred gift you disesteem. Denham. Qualities which society does not disesteem. Ld. Lytton.

d in 1221. The first foundation in the United States was made in 1807. The Master of the Sacred Palace at Rome is always a Dominican friar. The Dominicans are called also preaching friars, friars preachers, black friars (from their black cloak), brothers of St. Mary, and in France, Jacobins.

A thing given to a sacred use. [R.] Burton.

The sixth month of the Jewish year, by the sacred reckoning, or the twelfth, by the civil reckoning, corresponding nearly to the month of September.