sacrament

A Christian religious ceremony believed to show God's love and help, such as baptism.

• Baptism is a sacrament.
• The priest explained the meaning of each sacrament.
• Different churches recognise different numbers of sacraments.

How to use it: sacrament of something (They celebrated the sacrament of marriage in the village church.)

Similar words: sacred rite

Common phrases: holy sacrament, sacrament of baptism, receive a sacrament

The Christian ceremony of sharing bread and wine to remember Jesus's death.

• They gathered to celebrate the sacrament.
• The priest administered the sacrament during the service.
• She received the sacrament every Sunday.

Similar words: Communion, Eucharist, Lord's Supper

Common phrases: receive the sacrament, celebrate the sacrament, administer the sacrament

The bread, and sometimes wine, blessed for use in the Christian Communion ceremony.

• The priest carried the sacrament to the sick woman.
• The sacrament was kept in the chapel.
• They knelt before the Blessed Sacrament.

Similar words: consecrated elements, Eucharist

Common phrases: Blessed Sacrament, reserve the sacrament, consecrated sacrament

Something treated as holy or as having a deep, mysterious meaning.

• For him, sharing food was a sacrament.
• The poet regarded the forest as a living sacrament.
• Their daily walk became a quiet sacrament of friendship.

Similar words: sacred symbol, sacred thing

Common phrases: a living sacrament, sacrament of nature, sacrament of love

To make someone promise something by taking a serious or religious oath.

• The ruler sacramented his followers.
• They were sacramented to serve the king.
• The ceremony sacramented each knight to a life of duty.

How to use it: sacrament someone to something (The commander sacramented his soldiers to loyalty.)

Similar words: bind by oath, swear in

Common phrases: sacrament someone, sacrament the soldiers, sacrament someone to loyalty