Sāʹcred, a.
a. [Originally p. p. of O. Eng. sacre, to consecrate; Fr. sacré, p. p. of sacrer; Sp., Pg., & It. sacro, from Lat. sacer, sacred, holy, cursed. See supra.]
Sense 1. Set apart by solemn religious ceremony; especially, in a good sense, made holy; set apart to religious use; consecrated; not profane or common; as, a sacred place; a sacred day; sacred service; sacred orders.
Sense 2. Relating to religion, or to the services of religion; not secular; religious; as, sacred history. “Smit with the love of sacred song.” Milton.
Sense 3. Possessing the highest title to respect, reverence, or veneration; entitled to extreme reverence; venerable.
Poet and saint to thee alone were given.
The two most sacred names of earth and heaven. Cowley.
Sense 4. Hence, not to be profaned or violated; inviolable.
Secrets of marriage still are sacred held. Dryden.
Sense 5. Consecrated; dedicated; devoted;—with to. “A temple sacred to the queen of love.” Dryden.
Sense 6. Solemnly devoted, in a bad sense, as to evil, vengeance, curse, or the like; accursed; baleful. “But to destruction sacred and devote.” Milton.
Sacred bean (Bot.), a large aquatic plant of the genus Nelumbium (N. speciosum), resembling the water-lily. It is venerated as sacred by the Chinese and Japanese.—Order of the sacred heart (Rom. Cath. Church), an order of religious ladies, founded in France in the year 1800, and approved in 1826. It was introduced into America in 1817. The members of the order devote themselves to the highest branches of female education.—Sacred place (Civil Law), the place where a deceased person is buried.
Synonyms—Holy; divine; hallowed; consecrated; dedicated; devoted; religious; venerable; reverend.