sacrificed
UK[ˈsækrɪfaɪst]US[ˈsækrəˌfaɪst]
v
Past tense and past participle of 'sacrifice'. To give up something valuable or important for the sake of other considerations.
v
To kill an animal or person as an offering to a god or deity.
Morpheme Breakdown
sacri
fic
ed
sacri
sacred
fic
make
ed
past tense suffix
Etymology
The word 'sacrifice' originates from the Latin sacrificium, itself a compound of sacer ('sacred, holy') and the root of facere ('to make, to do'). The literal meaning was thus 'to make sacred' or 'to perform a sacred rite'. This core concept involved the ritual offering of something, often an animal or valuable possession, to a deity to establish a sacred connection, seek favor, or atone for wrongdoing. Over time, the meaning broadened beyond the purely religious context to encompass any act of giving up something of value for a higher purpose or for the benefit of others. The '-ed' suffix is a later Germanic addition, marking the verb for past tense or perfective aspect, resulting in the modern form 'sacrificed'.
Analysis
Structure: sacri (sacred) + fic (make) + ed (past tense suffix)
- sacri: From Latin sacer, meaning 'sacred, holy'.
- fic: From Latin -ficus, a combining form of facere, meaning 'to make, to do'.
- ed: A Germanic-derived suffix indicating past tense or past participle.
Examples
He sacrificed his career to care for his family.
In ancient rituals, a lamb was often sacrificed to the gods.
The general sacrificed several pawns to gain a strategic advantage.