sacrament
SAK-ruh-muhnt
/ˈsæk.rə.mənt/
A sacred religious ceremony or symbol regarded as imparting divine grace or spiritual blessing.
Carries deep theological weight, representing a physical sign of an inward spiritual reality.
The story behind the word. In ancient Rome, a sacramentum was a legal pledge deposited in a temple or a soldier's military oath of allegiance. Early Christian Latin authors adopted the term to translate the Greek mysterion.
Word relationships
- ordinance: Ordinance often emphasizes religious law or command, whereas sacrament emphasizes imparted grace.
- rite: Rite describes the ceremonial procedure; sacrament emphasizes the spiritual grace conferred.
- profanation: Profanation is treating sacred things with disrespect.
Commonly confused with
- sacrilege: Sacrilege is the violation or misuse of what is sacred; sacrament is the holy rite itself.
Word family
- sacramental (adjective): Relating to or constituting a sacrament.
Collocations
- holy sacrament
- administer a sacrament
- sacrament of marriage
- receive the sacrament
Example sentences
- "The second sacrament of initiation is Confirmation, which completes the grace of Baptism." Theology (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
- "They treated their solemn vows not as mere legal contracts, but as a binding sacrament." Literature
Memory hook
SACRAment comes from SACRED. Sacred agreement of divine grace.
When not to use
Do not use for secular pledges or informal agreements.
Fun facts
- Roman legionaries took a 'sacramentum' swearing loyalty to the emperor unto death.
Related words
Explore more words
ritual, benediction, covenant, excommunicate, solemn, penance
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