English dictionary

consecrate Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the past tense of consecrate?

The past tense of consecrate is consecrated. The present participle is consecrating.

Q: What are the comparative and superlative forms of consecrate?

The comparative form is more consecrate and the superlative form is most consecrate.

ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkrāt

What Does Consecrate Mean?

As an adjective, consecrate means dedicated to a sacred purpose. As a verb, it means to induct (a person) into a permanent office with a religious rite.

Consecrate at a Glance

Part of speech	adjective, verb
Pronunciation	/ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkrāt/
Syllables	3
Synonyms	order, hallow and votive
Antonyms	desecrate, desecrated and deconsecrate
Comparative / superlative	more consecrate, most consecrate
Verb forms	consecrates, consecrating, consecrated

Consecrate Definition (Adjective)

dedicated to a sacred purpose

Consecrate as a Verb

to induct (a person) into a permanent office with a religious rite
to ordain to the office of bishop
to make or declare sacred
to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony
consecrate a church
to effect the liturgical transubstantiation of (eucharistic bread and wine)
to devote to a purpose with or as if with deep solemnity or dedication
to make inviolable or venerable
principles consecrated by the weight of history

Consecrate in a Sentence

consecrate a church

principles consecrated by the weight of history

the consecrate gold tablets which Joseph Smith claimed to have found

a philanthropist who consecrated his considerable fortune to an array of charitable causes

plans to consecrate the altar in the new church with great ceremony

Word Forms & Grammar

consecrate

con·se·crat·ed

con·se·crat·ing

con·se·cra·tive adjective

con·se·cra·tor noun

con·se·cra·to·ry adjective

consecrated

consecrates

consecrating

consecrative

consecrator

consecrators

consecratory

consecrate (third-person singular simple present consecrates, present participle consecrating, simple past and past participle consecrated)

consecrate (comparative more consecrate, superlative most consecrate)

Origin of Consecrate

Origin 1: see consecrate:2

Origin 2: Middle English, from Latin consecratus, past participle of consecrare, from com- + sacrare to consecrate sacred

Origin 3: First attested in the late 14th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English consecraten (“to dedicate, consecrate (an altar, church); to ordain (a bishop), anoint (a king, a pope); to devote one to religious life”), from consecrat(e) (“consecrated”, used as the past participle of consecraten) +‎ -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin cōnsecrātus, perfect passive participle of cōnsecrāre, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Origin 4: First attested in the late 14th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English consecrat(e) (“consecrated”), used as the past participle of consecraten (“to dedicate, consecrate (an altar, church); to ordain (a bishop), anoint (a king, a pope); to devote one to religious life”); see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more. Regular participial usage up until Early Modern English.

First Known Use

14th century

How Do You Say Consecrate?

Consecrate is pronounced /ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkrāt/ and has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (kän(t)).

Consecrate: Your Questions Answered

Is consecrate an adjective or a verb?

Consecrate is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb.

What is another word for consecrate?

Close synonyms of consecrate are order, hallow and votive. See the full list of consecrate synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of consecrate?

Antonyms of consecrate include desecrate, desecrated, deconsecrate and deconsecrated.

What is the past tense of consecrate?

The past tense of consecrate is consecrated. The present participle is consecrating.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of consecrate?

The comparative form is more consecrate and the superlative form is most consecrate.