əˈblāshən, ōˈb-, äˈb- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English oblacioun, from Middle French oblation, from Late Latin oblation-, oblatio, from Latin oblatus (suppletive past participle of offerre to carry to, offer) + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a. : a religious or ritualistic offering usually of something without life in contrast to a sacrifice of living things
b. usually capitalized : the act of offering the eucharistic elements to God in a Christian communion service
2. : something offered or presented in worship or sacred service : offering , sacrifice
3. : an offering made to a church
offering her oblations for aid to the poor
4. usually capitalized : one of several loaves of leavened bread offered by members of an Eastern Orthodox church for use in the Eucharist