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Glite Dictionary
semisacred

semisacred

7.3
People treat it as partly holy but do not fully worship it
  • adjective
  • /ˌsɛmɪˈseɪkrɪd/
: semisagrado
  • The ancient relic was semisacred, revered by the villagers but not worshipped as a deity.

Examples

  • In the local tradition, certain places are considered semisacred, where people gather for special ceremonies.

  • The festival celebrated semisacred rituals that blended spiritual beliefs with everyday practices.

  • While enjoying, metaphorically at least, some sacred or semisacred attributes, the king was neither a god nor a priest.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Dancers are honored when their portraits are commissioned by semisacred or secular dance societies and displayed during public performances (Figs. 6–8, 11).

    Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

quasi-religious
vssemisacred
2 8.3

Showing very strong belief and feeling like worship

is about being partly regarded as holy rather than merely resembling faith features
semireligious
vssemisacred
1 7.7

Partly like a religion but not fully part of it

is about being partly regarded as holy rather than linked to practices

Antonyms

profane
5 6.3

Not related to religion, like everyday life or art

How Sacred

sacred
306 4.6
semisacred
7.3
secular
165 4.7
profane
  • NSFW
17 7.7

Surface Forms

semisacred positive

Morphology

semisacred = sacred (transparent) = semi + sacred

The word directly means 'partly sacred' through the productive prefix semi-.

Etymology

Semisacred comes from the prefix semi- meaning 'half' and sacred meaning 'holy', a root you also see in the word sacrifice. So a semisacred place is 'half' holy — respected or kept special, but not fully worshipped.