/ ˈseɪkrɪd; NAmE / adjective
1.
connected with God or a god; considered to be holy :
a sacred image / shrine / temple
sacred music
Cows are sacred to Hindus.
2.
very important and treated with great respect
SYN sacrosanct :
Human life must always be sacred.
For journalists nothing is sacred (= they can write about anything) .
► sac·red·ness noun [ U ]
—see also sanctity
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : past participle of archaic sacre consecrate , from Old French sacrer , from Latin sacrare , from sacer , sacr- holy.