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.
Derivatives:
sacrificial adj. sacrificially adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L sacrificium f. sacrificus (as SACRED)