— shrineless , adj. — shrinelike , adj.
/shruyn/ , n. , v. , shrined, shrining .
n.
1. a building or other shelter, often of a stately or sumptuous character, enclosing the remains or relics of a saint or other holy person and forming an object of religious veneration and pilgrimage.
2. any place or object hallowed by its history or associations: a historic shrine.
3. any structure or place consecrated or devoted to some saint, holy person, or deity, as an altar, chapel, church, or temple.
4. a receptacle for sacred relics; a reliquary.
v.t.
5. to enshrine.
[ bef. 1000; ME schrine, OE scrin (c. G Schrein, D schrijn ) scrinium case for books and papers ]