sacrament
UK[ˈsækrəmənt]US[ˈsækrəmənt]
n
a religious ceremony or ritual regarded as an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual divine grace, especially in the Christian Church.
n
(in Roman Catholic use) the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread or Host.
Morpheme Breakdown
sacr
ament
sacr
sacred
ament
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'sacrament' entered English in the 12th century via Old French, tracing its ultimate origin to the Latin sacramentum, which meant a "solemn oath" or "pledge," particularly a soldier's oath of allegiance. This Latin term itself was derived from sacrare, meaning "to consecrate," which in turn came from sacer, meaning "sacred." The semantic evolution is clear: from the general concept of something "sacred," to a "binding oath," and finally to its specialized Christian theological meaning as a sacred rite that is a visible sign of a sacred reality and a pledge of divine grace. This journey reflects the term's adaptation from Roman military and legal culture into the heart of Christian liturgical practice.
Analysis
Structure: sacr (sacred) + ament (noun suffix)
- sacr: From Latin sacr-, meaning "sacred, holy". It functions as the core root conveying the concept of the divine.
- ament: A noun-forming suffix, from Latin -mentum, indicating a concrete result, means, or act. It functions to turn the adjective "sacred" into a noun denoting a sacred thing or act.
Examples
Baptism is considered a sacrament in many Christian denominations.
The priest prepared the sacrament for the communion service.
They believed the marriage sacrament created an indissoluble bond.