Sacrifice Definition
săkrə-fīs
sacrificed, sacrifices, sacrificing
noun
sacrifices
The act of offering the life of a person or animal, or some object, in propitiation of or homage to a deity.
Webster's New World
A victim offered in this way.
American Heritage
The act of giving up, destroying, permitting injury to, or forgoing something valued for the sake of something having a more pressing claim.
Webster's New World
A thing so given up, etc.
Webster's New World
Something so offered.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
sacrificed, sacrifices, sacrificing
To offer as a sacrifice to God or a god.
Webster's New World
To give up, destroy, permit injury to, or forgo (something valued) for the sake of something having a more pressing claim.
Webster's New World
To give up (one thing) for another thing considered to be of greater value.
American Heritage
To offer or make a sacrifice.
Webster's New World
To sell at less than the supposed value.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Origin of Sacrifice
-
Middle English from Old French from Latin sacrificium sacer sacred sacred facere to make dhē- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Latin sacrificium (“sacrifice"), from sacrificō (“make or offer a sacrifice"), from sacer (“sacred, holy"), + faciō (“do, make").
From Wiktionary
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