sacred English · revision 6569

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1380|origins=la sacer}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈseɪkɹɪd/, /ˈseɪkɚd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past participle of the obsolete verb [[enm|sacren|t=to make holy, consecrate]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from [[fro|sacrer|t=to consecrate, anoint]] or directly [[m|la|sacro|alt=sacrāre|t=to make sacred]], from [[m|la|sacer|t=sacred, dedicated; accursed]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MW Word Histories) related to [[m|la|sancio|alt=sancīre|t=to make sacred]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of the Eucharist, consecrated: about 1380 in Barnhart and the OED;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) hallowed or made holy, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The verb sacren is from probably before 1200.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ MWH notes that Latin sacer also meant accursed, as in Virgil's ''auri sacra fames'', but only the holy sense passed into the verb, and that Old French sacrer was used especially for crowning a king.^(MW Word Histories) The OED observes that the idea of a participle soon disappeared from sacred.^(Etymonline) Set apart for religious use is from 1412–20,^(OED 1989) and dedicated to some person or purpose from 1667.^(OED 1989) Sacred books are from 1593,^(OED 1989) and sacred animals and plants from 1783.^(OED 1989) The ''sacred cow'', someone or something beyond criticism, is American journalists' slang from 1910.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – the verb sacren.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1380 – consecrated.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1593 – sacred books.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1910 – sacred cow.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Connected with [[God]] or a god, or dedicated to a religious purpose; [[holy]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Regarded with great respect and reverence.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Protected from violation or criticism: ''nothing is sacred''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Dedicated to a person or purpose: ''sacred to the memory of''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sacredly]]

+ * [[sacredness]]

+ * [[nonsacred]]

+ * [[pseudosacred]]

+ * [[semisacred]]

+ * [[unsacred]]

+ * [[sacred bamboo]]

+ * [[sacred baboon]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sacralize]]

+ * [[sacrament]]

+ * [[sacrifice]]

+ * [[sacrilege]]

+ * [[sacrosanct]]

+ * [[saint]]

+ * [[consecrate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}