consecrated

adjective

con·​se·​crat·​ed ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkrā-təd How to pronounce consecrated (audio)
: having been consecrated: such as
a
: inducted into a permanent office with a religious rite
Three hours later she went forth from the abbey, amid the greatest rejoicing, a crowned and consecrated Queen.Harry Boardman
especially : ordained to the office of bishop
newly consecrated bishops
b
: made or declared sacred
… a legend which tells of how a one-day supply of consecrated oil which the Maccabees used for the re-dedication of the desecrated Temple lasted for eight days until more could be obtained.World Religions
This week the Vatican issued a directive not to scatter the ashes of loved ones after cremation … . Remains of loved ones should be spread only in consecrated graveyards or holy places specifically dedicated to this purposeMandy Johnston
especially : devoted irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony
a consecrated church
Sister Carol said that throughout her 50 years in consecrated life [life as a religious], she has always tried to minister with joy. St. John Valley Times (Madawaska, Maine)
c
of Eucharistic bread and wine : transubstantiated by liturgical rite
the consecrated host
Foremost among them, from the orthodox point of view, was the tradition of the Eucharist, the sacramental bread and wine, each consecrated particle and drop of which, according to the doctrine of concomitance, contained within it the whole body and blood of Christ …Mitchell B. Merback

Examples of consecrated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lyon is the gastronomic center of France, and, around this consecrated space, the Troisgros family has controlled one restaurant after another since 1930. David Denby, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2023 On the one hand were shrines, images, sacred objects; on the other, a fierce love of formlessness born out of a loathing of consecrated ground, idols and clergy. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 This month, he was featured on new country star Zach Bryan’s latest EP, and next summer, Kahan will cap-off a huge North American stadium tour with two nights playing New England’s most consecrated ground, Fenway Park. Vulture, 28 Sep. 2023 But a welcome corrective offered by the film is the insistence that, for the faithful, whatever happens on this consecrated day matters to all the other days of the week. Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023 Did the secret of this avowal loiter in the breast of a consecrated virgin? Cynthia Ozick, Harper's Magazine, 10 Apr. 2023 Ever since 2014, those loyal to dewiness and glossiness have sought a consecrated place to pay homage to Balm Dotcom universal salve and Boy Brow grooming pomade. Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 12 May 2023 Ann introduced herself as a consecrated pilgrim who had renounced worldly possessions. Lisa Wells, Harper’s Magazine , 13 Mar. 2023 Also in need of a revolution in their home country, but born several decades too early: The 132 French women, convicted of crimes as small as eating a stash of consecrated hosts in a time of scarcity, who were involuntarily sent to America’s Gulf Coast in 1719. Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 26 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consecrated.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consecrated was in 1549

Dictionary Entries Near consecrated

Cite this Entry

“Consecrated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consecrated. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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