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consecrate

KON-suh-krayt /ˈkɒnsɪkreɪt/

verbC1GRESAT

formalreligious

To make or declare something (typically a church) sacred; to dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.

It is a formal, often public act of transformation from the secular to the sacred.

The story behind the word. The word literally means 'to make holy along with' others. It implies a communal recognition that a space is no longer for ordinary use but belongs to the divine.

Word relationships

sanctify: Sanctify often refers to the internal process of making a person holy, while consecrate is the external act of making a place or object holy.
bless: Blessing is a general wish for divine favor; consecrating is a formal change of status.

desecrate: Desecrate is to treat a sacred place or thing with violent disrespect; it is the active reversal of consecration.

Commonly confused with

dedicate: Dedicate is general (dedicate a book); consecrate is specifically religious.

Word family

consecration (noun): The action of making or declaring something sacred.

Collocations

consecrate a church
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." From a famous American speech.
"The bishop will arrive next week to consecrate the new cathedral." Religious ceremony.

Memory hook

With 'Con'-centration, you 'Consecrate' the ground. To formally make holy.

When not to use

Don't use for informal dedication, like 'consecrating' a new notebook; it's too heavy a word.

Fun facts

In some traditions, even the bread and wine of a ceremony are said to be 'consecrated' to change their spiritual essence.