1. devoted to deity: dedicated to a deity or religious purpose
2. of religion: relating to or used in religious worship
3. worthy of worship: worthy of or regarded with religious veneration, worship, and respect
4. dedicated to somebody: dedicated to or in honor of somebody
5. inviolable: not to be challenged or disrespected
[14th century. < past participle of obsolete sacre "consecrate," via French< Latin sacrare< sacr- "sacred"]
sa·cred·ly adverb
sa·cred·ness noun
Word History
The Latin word sacersacr- "holy, sacred," from which sacred is derived, is also the source of English consecrate, execrate, sacrament, sacrifice, sacrilege, sacristan, and sexton.
