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transubstantiate

verb
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tran·​sub·​stan·​ti·​ate | \ ˌtran(t)-səb-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce transubstantiate (audio) \
transubstantiated; transubstantiating

Definition of transubstantiate

transitive verb

1 : to effect transubstantiation in (sacramental bread and wine)
2 : to change into another substance : transmute

intransitive verb

: to undergo transubstantiation
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Examples of transubstantiate in a Sentence

the novelist transubstantiated the joys and sorrows of his early years into a charming fable about childhood
Recent Examples on the Web But his concerns are the same as artists 500 years gone — how bodies can be transubstantiated into precious metal, and take on new meaning and value. — New York Times, "14 Art Exhibitions to View in N.Y.C. This Weekend," 13 Feb. 2020 Our fathers poured the gold like priests / transubstantiating molten for the world’s architecture. — Patrick T. Reardon, chicagotribune.com, "South Side character captured by three impressive new volumes," 14 Nov. 2019 Through football, a one-hour spectacle of peak human performance and perfect pageantry is transubstantiated in real time into the country’s sustaining mythology. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, "No Country for Colin Kaepernick," 11 Aug. 2017 And then there was Evie, the most beloved, who had transubstantiated into a postcard from Reno. — Sherman Alexie, The New Yorker, "Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'transubstantiate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of transubstantiate

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for transubstantiate

Middle English transsubstanciaten, from Medieval Latin transubstantiatus, past participle of transubstantiare, from Latin trans- + substantia substance

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Time Traveler for transubstantiate

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The first known use of transubstantiate was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Transubstantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transubstantiate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.

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