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to consecrate

to consecrate

15 7.4
To make a place or person holy by a ceremony
  • verb
  • /ˈkɒnsɪˌkreɪt/
  • Formal
: consagrar (religioso)
  • We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Marie and Jess and to consecrate their vows of matrimony.
  • consecrate a church
  • consecrate the host
  • consecrate a bishop

But but I remember she said that's when you're consecrated to God.

Examples

  • These brave men, who struggled and died here, have consecrated this ground, and it is for us, the living, to finish the work which they so nobly advanced.

  • Under the eye of God, and within the boundaries of this local jurisdiction, which we hereby consecrate on this day, the 5th of September, 1965.

  • We too must consecrate our lives to our sun.

  • "We consecrate this ground, this world of light.

  • I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve.

  • - Sir, this is consecrated ground!

  • to consecrate the greatness of our king

  • Creating a space consecrated to listening deeply to each other made accountability for our actions possible.

    Academic text (1999)
  • From this moment, I offer them to thy sacred heart, and by this offering I consecrate them, without reserve, to thy glory.

  • We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Marie and Jess and to consecrate their vows of matrimony.

Synonyms

to bless
vsto consecrate
  • Formal
462 3.5

To make something holy by a religious act

is a formal declaration of sacred status, not only a protective act
to commit
vsto consecrate
345 3.4

To give time, money, or effort to something

is a ceremonial making sacred or dedicating to a special purpose not just pledge
to devote
vsto consecrate
286 3.7

Give time, effort and money to a person, project or cause

often involves formal religious dedication rather than general personal commitment
to ordain
vsto consecrate
  • Formal
27 7.3

To make someone a priest or minister in a special religious ceremony

is broader applying to objects or people beyond appointing officers
to enshrine
vsto consecrate
  • Formal
22 7.2

Keep something as very important and protect it in law or memory

is the initial act of declaring sacred, not mainly preservation
to sanctify
vsto consecrate
16 7.4

To make a person or place holy with a religious ceremony

is more formal and often declares something sacred and dedicated to a purpose
to invest
vsto consecrate
  • Formal
10 6.2

To give someone official power or a job, often in a ceremony

focuses on making sacred or dedicating, not just granting authority
to dedicate
vsto consecrate
  • Formal
4 5.3

To make a building for religious use by a ceremony

is broader applying to people or purposes as well as places
to hallow
vsto consecrate
  • Formal
1 8.9

To make a place or thing holy by a religious ceremony

is used for formal declaration that also dedicates to sacred use
enshrinement
vsto consecrate
  • Formal
1 7.4

An act of keeping something safe and treating it as very important

is the process of making something sacred, not only protecting its memory
to sacralize
vsto consecrate
1 9.9

To make something seem holy or deeply religious

is a near synonym but often focuses on giving religious status
to ordinate
vsto consecrate
  • Formal
1 9.9

To make someone a priest or church leader

is broader applying to both people and things, not only appointment

Antonyms

37 8.1

To damage or show disrespect to a holy place, for example a grave

How Sacred

to consecrate
  • Formal
15 7.4
to sanctify
16 7.4
to bless
  • Formal
462 3.5
to dedicate
157 3.7

Surface Forms

consecrate infinitive
consecrated past participle
consecrating present participle
consecrates third person singular

Etymology

Consecrate comes from Latin parts con- meaning 'with' and sacrare from sacer meaning 'sacred'. So to consecrate something is to make it 'sacred' or set it apart with a special ceremony.