altar
UK[ˈɔːltə(r)]US[ˈɔːltər]
n
A table or flat-topped block used for religious rituals, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a god or deity.
n
A table used as the center of a Christian church ceremony, especially for the Eucharist.
Morpheme Breakdown
alt
ar
alt
high
ar
noun suffix/thing pertaining to
Etymology
The word 'altar' originates from the Latin altare, which itself is derived from altus, meaning "high." This etymology reflects the physical and symbolic nature of an altar as an elevated platform or structure, lifting the sacred act of sacrifice or offering closer to the divine realm. The Latin term was adopted into Old English as altar, reinforced later by Anglo-Norman and Old French influences. While the original Proto-Indo-European root \al- (to grow, nourish) underlies the concept of height, the direct semantic logic for 'altar' is clear: it is literally "a high place" for religious ceremony.
Analysis
Structure: alt (high) + ar (noun suffix/thing pertaining to)
- alt: From Latin altus (high, tall, deep). In this compound, it conveys the sense of a high or elevated place.
- ar: A suffix of Latin origin (-aris) forming adjectives and nouns, here forming a noun meaning "a thing pertaining to" the root concept.
Examples
The priest placed the sacred relics on the stone altar.
They knelt before the altar to pray.
The ancient altar was discovered by archaeologists at the site of the temple.