consecrate
Meaning
To make or declare something sacred, especially in a religious ceremony.
To dedicate something formally to a religious or divine purpose.
To ordain someone to a sacred office, especially that of bishop.
Structure
Usage
The archbishop will consecrate the new cathedral next week.
They vowed to consecrate their lives to helping the poor.
The ground was consecrated as a memorial to the fallen soldiers.
Etymology
The word 'consecrate' originates from the Latin verb 'consecrare', meaning "to make sacred, dedicate". This Latin term is a compound of the intensive prefix 'con-' (completely) and the root 'sacrare' (to make holy), which itself derives from the adjective 'sacer' (sacred). The core concept of 'sacer' in ancient Roman religion referred to something set apart for the gods, imbued with a divine and inviolable quality. Thus, the etymological journey from 'sacer' to 'consecrate' illustrates the process of completely setting something apart, through ritual, for a sacred purpose, a meaning that has been preserved in English religious and formal usage.
Analysis
- con: A prefix from Latin 'cum', meaning "together, with, completely". It intensifies the meaning of the root. - secr: A root from Latin 'sacrare' (to make sacred), derived from 'sacer' (sacred, holy). - ate: A verb-forming suffix from Latin '-atus', indicating an action or process.