n. & v.
n. 1 a the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else more important or worthy. b a thing given up in this way. c the loss entailed in this. 2 a the slaughter of an animal or person or the surrender of a possession as an offering to a deity. b an animal, person, or thing offered in this way. 3 an act of prayer, thanksgiving, or penitence as propitiation. 4 Theol. a Christ's offering of himself in the Crucifixion. b the Eucharist as either a propitiatory offering of the body and blood of Christ or an act of thanksgiving. 5 (in games) a loss incurred deliberately to avoid a greater loss or to obtain a compensating advantage.
v. 1 tr. give up (a thing) as a sacrifice. 2 tr. (foll. by to) devote or give over to. 3 tr. (also absol.) offer or kill as a sacrifice. sacrificial adj. sacrificially adv.
[ ME f. OF f. L sacrificium f. sacrificus (as SACRED) ]