[syn: consecrated, sacred, sanctified]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Consecrate \Con"se*crate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Consecrated; p.
pr. & vb. n. Consecrating.]
1. To make, or declare to be, sacred; to appropriate to
sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the
service or worship of God; as, to consecrate a church; to
give (one's self) unreservedly, as to the service of God.
[1913 Webster]
One day in the week is . . . consecrated to a holy
rest. --Sharp.
[1913 Webster]
2. To set apart to a sacred office; as, to consecrate a
bishop.
[1913 Webster]
Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. --Ex.
xxix. 9.
[1913 Webster]
3. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll
among the gods, as a Roman emperor.
[1913 Webster]
4. To render venerable or revered; to hallow; to dignify; as,
rules or principles consecrated by time. --Burke.
Syn: See Addict.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
consecrated
adj 1: solemnly dedicated to or set apart for a high purpose; "a
life consecrated to science"; "the consecrated chapel";
"a chapel dedicated to the dead of World War II" [syn:
consecrated, consecrate, dedicated] [ant:
desecrated]
2: made or declared or believed to be holy; devoted to a deity
or some religious ceremony or use; "a consecrated church";
"the sacred mosque"; "sacred elephants"; "sacred bread and
wine"; "sanctified wine" [syn: consecrated, sacred,
sanctified]