Sacred
WordNet
adjective
(1) (often followed by `to') devoted exclusively to a single use or purpose or person
"A fund sacred to charity"
"A morning hour sacred to study"
"A private office sacred to the President"
(2) Made or declared or believed to be holy; devoted to a deity or some religious ceremony or use
"A consecrated chursh"
"The sacred mosque"
"Sacred elephants"
"Sacred bread and wine"
"Sanctified wine"
(3) Worthy of religious veneration
"The sacred name of Jesus"
"Jerusalem's hallowed soil"
(4) Concerned with religion or religious purposes
"Sacred texts"
"Sacred rites"
"Sacred music"
(5) Worthy of respect or dedication
"Saw motherhood as woman's sacred calling"
WiktionaryText
Etymology 1
From , participle adjective of , from , from , from .
Adjective
- Set apart by solemn religious ceremony; especially, in a good sense, made holy; set apart to religious use; consecrated; not profane or common; as, a sacred place; a sacred day; sacred service.
- Relating to religion, or to the services of religion; not secular; religious; as, sacred history.
- Smit with the love of sacred song. -John Milton.
- Designated or exalted by a divine sanction; possessing the highest title to obedience, honor, reverence, or veneration; entitled to extreme reverence; venerable.
- Such neighbor nearness to our sacred [royal] blood Should nothing privilege him.
- Poet and saint to thee alone were given, The two most sacred names of earth and heaven. -Cowley.
- Hence, not to be profaned or violated; inviolable.
- Secrets of marriage still are sacred held. -Dryden.
- Consecrated; dedicated; devoted; -- with to.
- A temple, sacred to the queen of love. -Dryden.
- Solemnly devoted, in a bad sense, as to evil, vengeance, curse, or the like; accursed; baleful.
- But, to destruction sacred and devote. -Milton.
Synonyms
- consecrated
- divine
- godly
- hallowed
- holy
- inviolable
- sacrosanct