Search the Dictionary

eiving and containing something, as a basket, a vase, a bag, a reservoir; a repository. O sacred receptacle of my joys! Shak.

; a stronghold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; a place inaccessible to an enemy. The high hills are a refuger the wild goats. Ps. civ. 18. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed. Ps. ix. 9.

sen; to relax; to remove the obligation of; as, to release an ordinance. [Obs.] Hooker. A sacred vow that none should aye Spenser.

tooth or a bone of this saint. Addison. Thy relics, Rowe, to this fair urn we trust, And sacred place by Dryden's awful dust. Pope.

Specifically, the last book of the sacred canon, containing the prophecies of St. John; the Apocalypse.

reverent quality; reverent; as, reverential fear or awe. "A reverential esteem of things sacred." South.

Corrosive or injurious accretion or influence. Sacred truths cleared from all rust and dross of human mixtures. Eikon Basilike.

The oath of allegiance taken by Roman soldiers; hence, a sacred ceremony used to impress an obligation; a solemn oath-taking; an oath. [Obs.] I'll take the sacrament on't. Shak.

Of or pertaining to a sacrament or the sacraments; of the nature of a sacrament; sacredly or solemny binding; as, sacramental rites or elements.

The sin or crime of violating or profaning sacred things; the alienating to laymen, or to common purposes, what has been appropriated or consecrated to religious persons or uses. And the hid treasures in her sacred tomb With sacrilege to dig. Spenser. Families raised upon the ruins of churches, and enriched with the sp…

Violating sacred things; polluted with sacrilege; involving sacrilege; profane; impious. Above the reach of sacrilegious hands. pope. -- Sac`ri*le"gious*ly, adv. -- Sac`ri*le"gious*ness, n.

a. & n. from Sacre. Sacring bell. See Sanctus bell, under Sanctus.

A apartment in a church where the sacred utensils, vestments, etc., are kept; a vestry.

Sacred; inviolable. [R.] Dr. H. More.

A work in the Persian tongue, being a summary of the Zend- Avesta, or sacred books.

Consecrated; sacred; holy; pious. "A most sainted king." Shak. Amongst the enthroned gods on sainted seats. Milton.

The act of consecrating, or of setting apart, for a sacred purpose; consecration. Bp. Burnet.

To make sacred or holy; to set apart to a holy or religious use; to consecrate by appropriate rites; to hallow. God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Gen. ii. 3. Moses . . . sanctified Aaron and his garnment. Lev. viii. 30.

Possessing sanctimony; holy; sacred; saintly. Shak.

Holiness; sacredness; sanctity. [R.] milton.