# consecrate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈkɒnsəkɹeɪt/ · frequency rank #57,951

## Definitions
1. To declare something holy, or make it holy by some procedure.
2. To ordain as a bishop.
3. To commit (oneself or one's time) solemnly to some aim or task.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱe
Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm
Proto-Italic *kom
Proto-Italic *kom-
Latin con-
Proto-Indo-European *seh₂k-
Proto-Indo-European *-rós
Proto-Indo-European *sh₂krós
Proto-Italic *sakros
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Italic *-āō
Proto-Italic *sakrāō
Latin sacrō
Latin cōnsecrōbor.
Middle English consecraten
English consecrate
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).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/consecrate