enshrine

Enshrine is a transitive verb meaning to place in or as if in a shrine, or to preserve and honor something as sacred; it can also mean to fix something firmly in law, policy, or memory. The act conveys a sense of solemn preservation and enduring reverence.

Etymology traces the term to en- (into) + shrine, with usage dating from the Middle English period. The related noun enshrinement denotes the act or process of enshrining and the state of being enshrined, while the adjective enshrined describes something that has already been placed in a shrine or treated as sacred.

In religious contexts, enshrining commonly refers to relics or sacred objects placed within a reliquary or shrine, making them objects of veneration and ritual attention. The practice is associated with religious rites, pilgrimages, and ceremonies that honor the sanctity of the object or person involved. Customs and significance vary across traditions, but the underlying idea is the preservation of something regarded as spiritually important.

In secular usage, enshrine is often metaphorical. Institutions may enshrine rights, values, or constitutional guarantees by embedding them in law or policy. A memorial or cultural artifact can be enshrined in public memory or in a museum collection. This sense emphasizes formal recognition and lasting protection, even outside religious contexts.

See also: relic, reliquary, shrine, memorialization, enshrinement.