browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
sacred |
5 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sacred \Sa"cred\, a. [Originally p. p. of OE sacren to consecrate, F. sacrer, fr L. sacrare, fr sacer sacred, holy, cursed. Cf {Consecrate}, {Execrate}, {Saint}, {Sexton}.] 1. Set apart by solemn religious ceremony; especially, in a good sense made holy; set apart to religious use consecrated; not profane or common; as a sacred place a sacred day sacred service. 2. Relating to religion, or to the services of religion; not secular; religious; as sacred history. Smit with the love of sacred song. --Milton. 3. Designated or exalted by a divine sanction; possessing the highest title to obedience, honor, reverence, or veneration; entitled to extreme reverence; venerable. Such neighbor nearness to our sacred [royal] blood Should nothing privilege him --Shak. Poet and saint to thee alone were given The two most sacred names of earth and heaven. --Cowley. 4. Hence not to be profaned or violated; inviolable. Secrets of marriage still are sacred held. --Dryden. 5. Consecrated; dedicated; devoted; -- with to A temple, sacred to the queen of love. --Dryden. 6. Solemnly devoted, in a bad sense as to evil, vengeance, curse, or the like accursed; baleful. [Archaic] But to destruction sacred and devote. --Milton. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: sacred adj 1: concerned with religion or religious purposes; "sacred texts"; "sacred rites"; "sacred music" [ant: {profane}] 2: worthy of respect or dedication; "saw motherhood as woman's sacred calling" 3: made or declared or believed to be holy; devoted to a deity or some religious ceremony or use "a consecrated chursh"; "the sacred mosque"; "sacred elephants"; "sacred bread and wine"; "sanctified wine" [syn: {consecrated}, {sanctified}] 4: worthy of religious veneration; "the sacred name of Jesus"; "Jerusalem's hallowed soil" [syn: {hallowed}] 5: (often followed by `to') devoted exclusively to a single use or purpose or person; "a fund sacred to charity"; "a morning hour sacred to study"; "a private office sacred to the President" From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]: sacred adj Reserved for the exclusive use of something (an extension of the standard meaning). Often means that anyone may look at the sacred object, but clobbering it will screw whatever it is sacred to The comment "Register 7 is sacred to the interrupt handler" appearing in a program would be interpreted by a hacker to mean that if any _other_ part of the program changes the contents of register 7, dire consequences are likely to ensue. From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: sacred Reserved for the exclusive use of something (an extension of the standard meaning). Often means that anyone may look at the sacred object, but clobbering it will screw whatever it is sacred to The comment "Register 7 is sacred to the interrupt handler" appearing in a program would be interpreted by a hacker to mean that if any *other* part of the program changes the contents of register 7, dire consequences are likely to ensue. [{Jargon File}] From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: SACRED, adj Dedicated to some religious purpose; having a divine character; inspiring solemn thoughts or emotions; as the Dalai Lama of Thibet; the Moogum of M'bwango; the temple of Apes in Ceylon; the Cow in India; the Crocodile, the Cat and the Onion of ancient Egypt; the Mufti of Moosh; the hair of the dog that bit Noah, etc All things are either sacred or profane. The former to ecclesiasts bring gain; The latter to the devil appertain. Dumbo Omohundro
more about sacred
This work is licensed under a
