shrine
SHRYN
/ʃraɪn/
A place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person or relic.
Can be a large building or a small shelf in a home; it is defined by the devotion it receives.
The story behind the word. The word 'shrine' has a surprisingly humble origin. It comes from the Latin 'scrinium', which was simply a box or chest for holding scrolls. Over time, these boxes were used to hold the bones or belongings of saints (relics), and eventually, the word came to mean the holy place where the box was kept.
Word relationships
- sanctuary: A sanctuary is a place of safety or the most holy part of a temple; a shrine is specifically a place of commemoration.
- memorial: A memorial is for remembering; a shrine is for worshipping or venerating.
Commonly confused with
- altar: An altar is a table used for sacrifices or rituals; a shrine is the whole commemorative site.
Word family
- enshrine (verb): To preserve or cherish as sacred.
Collocations
- roadside shrine
- holy shrine
- shrine to the dead
- visit a shrine
Example sentences
- "A small shrine of flowers and candles was placed at the site of the accident." Describing a roadside memorial.
- "His bedroom was a shrine to Elvis Presley, filled with posters and memorabilia." Describing a fan's room.
Memory hook
A 'Shrine' is where you 'Enshrine' what you 'Shine' a light on. The holy box.
When not to use
Don't confuse it with a 'temple' (which is a whole building for worship); a shrine is often a specific spot within or outside a temple.
Fun facts
- The Ise Grand Shrine in Japan is dismantled and rebuilt exactly the same way every 20 years.
- The word 'enshrined' is often used for laws that are protected within a constitution.
Related words
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