Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -crat · ed ; -crat · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin consecratus, past participle of consecrare, from com- + sacrare to consecrate ― more at SACRED
Date: 14th century
1 : to induct (a person) into a permanent office with a religious rite especially : to ordain to the office of bishop
2 a : to make or declare sacred especially : to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony b : to effect the liturgical transubstantiation of (eucharistic bread and wine) c : to devote to a purpose with or as if with deep solemnity or dedication
3 : to make inviolable or venerable <principles consecrated by the weight of history>
synonyms see DEVOTE
– con · se · cra · tive \ - ˌ kr ā -tiv \ adjective
– con · se · cra · tor \ - ˌ kr ā -t ə r \ noun
– con · se · cra · to · ry \ ' kän(t)-si-kr ə - ˌ to ̇ r- ē , - ˌ kr ā -t ə -r ē \ adjective