The Collaborative International Dictionary
Consecrate \Con"se*crate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Consecrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Consecrating.]
-
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.
One day in the week is . . . consecrated to a holy rest.
--Sharp. -
To set apart to a sacred office; as, to consecrate a bishop.
Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.
--Ex. xxix. 9. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll among the gods, as a Roman emperor.
-
To render venerable or revered; to hallow; to dignify; as, rules or principles consecrated by time.
--Burke.Syn: See Addict.
Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of consecrate English)
Usage examples of "consecrating".
Let him sweep and garnish the place, sprinkling it with water or with wine as is appropriate to the particular Deity, and consecrating it with oil, and with such ritual as may seem him best.
As for example, when the Priest, in stead of Consecrating Bread and Wine to Gods peculiar service in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, (which is but a separation of it from the common use, to signifie, that is, to put men in mind of their Redemption, by the Passion of Christ, whose body was broken, and blood shed upon the Crosse for our transgressions,) pretends, that by saying of the words of our Saviour, This is my Body, and This is my Blood, the nature of Bread is no more there, but his very Body.