consecrate

consecrate
    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}]
    v 1: appoint to a clerical posts; "he was ordained in the
         Church" [syn: {ordain}, {consecrate}, {ordinate}, {order}]
    2: give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause; "She
       committed herself to the work of God"; "give one's talents to
       a good cause"; "consecrate your life to the church" [syn:
       {give}, {dedicate}, {consecrate}, {commit}, {devote}]
    3: dedicate to a deity by a vow [syn: {vow}, {consecrate}]
    4: render holy by means of religious rites [syn: {consecrate},
       {bless}, {hallow}, {sanctify}] [ant: {deconsecrate},
       {desecrate}, {unhallow}]
    

Consecrate \Con"se*crate\, a. [L. consceratus, p. p. of
   conscerare to conscerate; con- + sacrare to consecrate, sacer
   sacred. See {Sacred}.]
   Consecrated; devoted; dedicated; sacred.
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         They were assembled in that consecrate place. --Bacon.
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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.
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            One day in the week is . . . consecrated to a holy
            rest.                                 --Sharp.
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   2. To set apart to a sacred office; as, to consecrate a
      bishop.
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            Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. --Ex.
                                                  xxix. 9.
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   3. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll
      among the gods, as a Roman emperor.
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   4. To render venerable or revered; to hallow; to dignify; as,
      rules or principles consecrated by time. --Burke.

   Syn: See {Addict}.
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