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consecrate

KON-suh-krayt /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kreɪt/

verbC1GRESAT

formalreligious

To make or declare something sacred; to dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.

Often involves a specific ritual or official ceremony.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'con-' (together) and 'sacrare' (to make holy). It implies a communal act of setting something apart for God. It’s the positive version of 'desecrate'.

Word relationships

sanctify: Sanctify is often used for making a person holy; consecrate is more often used for objects or places.
bless: Blessing is a general act of favor; consecration is a formal change of status to 'sacred'.

desecrate: To treat a sacred place with violent disrespect.
profane: To treat something sacred with irreverence.

Commonly confused with

concentrate: Concentrate means to focus; consecrate means to make holy.

Word family

consecration (noun): The act of making something sacred.

Collocations

consecrate a church
consecrate a marriage
consecrate one's life
consecrated ground

Example sentences

"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground." Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
"The bishop arrived to consecrate the new cathedral in a ceremony that lasted four hours." Describing a religious ceremony.

Memory hook

With ('con') the 'Sacred' ('secrate'). To make holy.

When not to use

Don't use it for simply 'liking' something; it is a formal act of dedication.

Fun facts

In the Catholic Church, the bread and wine are said to be 'consecrated' during Mass.
Cemeteries are often 'consecrated ground', which historically meant only certain people could be buried there.