- IPA: /ˈsækɹəmənt/
sacrament (plural sacraments)
- (Christianity) A sacred act or ceremony in Christianity. In Catholic theology, a sacrament is defined as "an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace."
- (in particular) The Eucharist.
- The consecrated Eucharist (especially the bread).
- A thing which is regarded as possessing a sacred character or mysterious significance.
- God sometimes sent a light of fire, and pillar of a cloud […] and the sacrament of a rainbow, to guide his people through their portion of sorrows.
- The oath of allegiance taken by soldiers in Ancient Rome; hence, any sacred ceremony used to impress an obligation; a solemn oath-taking; an oath.
- c. 1604–1605, William Shakespeare, “All’s VVell, that Ends VVell”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene iii]:
- I'll take the sacrament on 't.
- French: sacrement
- German: Sakrament
- Italian: sacramento
- Portuguese: sacramento
- Russian: та́инство
- Spanish: sacramento
sacrament (sacraments, present participle sacramenting; past and past participle sacramented)