Sacrament Meaning
/ˈsækɹəmənt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA sacred act and the attendant ceremony, considered (theology) an outward sign of divine grace, instituted by Jesus Christ.
nounThe Eucharist.
Sentence Examples
Is that a heathen sacrament?
After everyone took their places, the sacrament begins.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The priest administered the sacred ____ of baptism to the newborn baby with holy water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The priest administered the ____ of baptism to the infant in front of the congregation.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English sacrament, from Old French sacrement, from Ecclesiastical Latin sacrāmentum (“sacrament”), from Latin sacrō (“hallow, consecrate”), from sacer (“sacred, holy”), originally sum deposited by parties to a suit.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Priest: I'm sorry, it's Duncan Dirk Dick. I've just done it. / Father: Well, undo it. / Priest: Undo it? / Father: Yes. / Priest: This is a holy sacrament of the Church, not a bleeding hotel reservation. You can't just undo it."
— 1989 February 10, Stephen Fry et al., “Christening”, in A Bit of Fry and Laurie, season 1, episode 5:
"God ſometimes ſent a light of fire, and pillar of a cloud, and the brightneſſe of an Angel, and the luſtre of a ſtar, and the ſacrament of a rainbovve to guide his people thorovv their portion of ſorrovvs, and to lead them through troubles to reſt: […]"
— 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “[XXVIII Sermons Preached at Golden Grove; Being for the Summer Half-year, […].] Sermon IX. The Faith and Patience of the Saints: Or The Righteous Cause Oppressed.”, in ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1654, →OCLC, page 105:
"The dots are easy to connect, because they’re so close together, and because they’re the entry and exit wounds inflicted on US society by the subculture whose sacrament is the gun."
— 2022 May 30, Rebecca Solnit, “US mass shootings will continue until the majority can overrule the minority”, in The Guardian:
"I'll take the sacrament on 't."
— c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The priest administered the sacred ____ of baptism to the newborn baby with holy water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The priest administered the ____ of baptism to the infant in front of the congregation.