Part 10

Sac"ri*fice (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sacrificed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Sacrificing (&?;).] [From Sacrifice, n.: cf. F. sacrifier, L. sacrificare; sacer sacred, holy + -ficare (only in comp.) to make. See -fy.] 1. To make an offering of; to consecrate or present to a divinity by way of expiation or propitiation, or as a token acknowledgment or thanksgiving; to immolate on the altar of God, in order to atone for sin, to procure favor, or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a sheep.

Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid.

Milton.

2. Hence, to destroy, surrender, or suffer to be lost, for the sake of obtaining something; to give up in favor of a higher or more imperative object or duty; to devote, with loss or suffering.

Condemned to sacrifice his childish years To babbling ignorance, and to empty fears.

Prior.

The Baronet had sacrificed a large sum . . . for the sake of . . . making this boy his heir.

G. Eliot.

3. To destroy; to kill. Johnson.

4. To sell at a price less than the cost or the actual value. [Tradesmen's Cant]

Sac"ri*fice, v. i. To make offerings to God, or to a deity, of things consumed on the altar; to offer sacrifice.

O teacher, some great mischief hath befallen To that meek man, who well had sacrificed.

Milton.

Sac"ri*fi`cer (?), n. One who sacrifices.

Sac`ri*fi"cial (?), a. Of or pertaining to sacrifice or sacrifices; consisting in sacrifice; performing sacrifice. "Sacrificial rites." Jer. Taylor.

Sac"ri*lege (?), n. [F. sacrilège, L. sacrilegium, from sacrilegus that steals, properly, gathers or picks up, sacred things; sacer sacred + legere to gather, pick up. See Sacred, and Legend.] The sin or crime of violating or profaning sacred things; the alienating to laymen, or to common purposes, what has been appropriated or consecrated to religious persons or uses.

And the hid treasures in her sacred tomb With sacrilege to dig.

Spenser.

Families raised upon the ruins of churches, and enriched with the spoils of sacrilege.

South.

Sac`ri*le"gious (?), a. [From sacrilege: cf. L. sacrilegus.] Violating sacred things; polluted with sacrilege; involving sacrilege; profane; impious.

Above the reach of sacrilegious hands.

Pope.

-- Sac`ri*le"gious*ly, adv. -- Sac`ri*le"gious*ness, n.

Sac"ri*le`gist (?), n. One guilty of sacrilege.

Sac"ring (?), a. & n. from Sacre.

Sacring bell. See Sanctus bell, under Sanctus.

Sa"crist (?), n. [LL. sacrista. See Sacristan.] A sacristan; also, a person retained in a cathedral to copy out music for the choir, and take care of the books.