Category:Consecrate

Con"se*crate, a. Etym: [L. consceratus, p.p. of conscerare to conscerate; con- + sacrare to consecrate, sacer sacred. See Sacred.]

Defn: Consecrated; devoted; dedicated; sacred. They were assembled in that consecrate place. Bacon.

consecrate Con"se*crate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consecrated; p.pr. & vb.n. Consecrating.]

1. To make, or declare to be, sacred; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service or worship of God; as, to consecrate a church; to give (one's self) unreservedly, as to the service of God. One day in the week is. . . consecrated to a holy rest. Sharp.

2. To set apart to a sacred office; as, to consecrate a bishop. Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. Ex. xxix. 9.

3. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll among the gods, as a Roman emperor.

4. To render venerable or revered; to hallow; to dignify; as, rules or principles consecrated by time. Burke.

Syn. -- See Addict.