SACRED

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from past participle of sacren to consecrate, from Anglo-French sacrer, from Latin sacrare, from sacr-, sacer ~; akin to Latin sancire to make ~, Hittite šaklāi- rite Date: 14th century 1. dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity , devoted exclusively to one service or use (as of a person or purpose) , 2. worthy of religious veneration ; holy , entitled to reverence and respect, of or relating to religion ; not secular or profane , accursed , 5. unassailable , inviolable , highly valued and important , ~ly adverb ~ness noun