consecrate

Consecrate is a verb meaning to make something sacred or to devote it to a divine purpose. It can describe the act of officially declaring something sacred, or of dedicating a person, space, or object to religious service. The noun form is consecration; an object or place that has been consecrated is described as consecrated.

Etymology: from Latin consecratus, from consecrare “to dedicate to sacred use” (con- “together” + sacrare “to make sacred”). The sense emphasizes separation from ordinary or profane use and a ceremonial designation of sacred function.

Religious use: In many Christian traditions, consecration is a central rite. A church, altar, or sacred object may be consecrated; a priest or bishop may be consecrated through ordination. The Eucharist involves the consecration of bread and wine, believed by many to become the body and blood of Christ. Similar concepts exist in other faiths under different terms, but the common element is dedicating elements, spaces, or persons to sacred service.

Secular and figurative use: The term is also used to devote something wholly to a purpose, such as life, work, or a public monument. A building, country, or organization may be described as consecrated to memory or to public service, though such usage is literary or ceremonial rather than a formal ritual.

See also: consecration, sanctification, dedication. Related concepts include hallow and blessing, which reflect related but distinct kinds of sacred designation.