† sacrifyv.
Obsolete.reflexive.1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxiv. 87 Alwayes she doubted her self in noo wyse, that her suster wolde..sacryfye hir self with funerailles mortalle, by fyre horrible.
1. transitive. To offer as a sacrifice.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrifice or a sacrifice > sacrifice [verb (transitive)]
offereOE
teemc1275
sacrea1325
sacrify1390
sacrificea1400
presentc1425
exhibit1490
immolate1548
immole1610
shrine?1611
victim1671
victimize1853
oblate1872
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 336 And forth unto the temple he com.., Hise yiftes forto sacrifie.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10389 Þam hale þan sacrified he, And delt þam siþen al thre.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope xxvii Thow shalt be take..and shalt be sacryfyed to theyre goddes.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Catech. in Catholic Tractates (S.T.S.) 181 Melchizedec sacrifeit breid and wyne in figure of the bodie and bloud of our lord.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. xii. sig. Aa5v A mighty Mazer bowle of wine was sett, As if it had to him bene sacrifide.
2. intransitive. To offer sacrifice.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrifice or a sacrifice > sacrifice [verb (intransitive)]
offereOE
sacrificec1290
sacrifya1325
immolate1628
a1325 Prose Psalter liii[i]. 6 Y shal sacrifye to þe wyþ gode wylle.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Exod. x. 11 Go ȝe oonly men, and sacryfye to the Lord.
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. iii. i. 120 He sulde..Deuotly to God sacryfy.
c1480 (a1400) St. John Evangelist 295 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 117 Þa..to þe tempil of dyane drew hym rudly, ore þai fane, for to strenȝe hym to sacrify.
1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions i. v. 52 That there might be none occasion of filthinesse, when they shold ministre or sacrifie.
3. transitive. To offer sacrifice to.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrifice or a sacrifice > sacrifice [verb (transitive)] > offer sacrifice to
lakec1175
sacrify1474
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. v. 124 As he sacrefyed his goddes he receyuyd lettres from the senate of rome.
a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) i. lv. f. cxi/1 [He] was broughte..in to a temple of ydolatrye..for to adoure and sacrefye the ydolles.
4. To consecrate.Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > holiness > consecration > perform consecration [verb (transitive)]
hallow971
blessc1000
teemc1275
bensyc1315
sacrec1380
dediec1430
consecratea1464
dedify1482
sanctify1483
consacrea1492
speak1502
vow1526
dedicate1530
sequester1533
celebrate1584
devote1586
vow1600
to set apart1604
devout1615
devove1619
devow1626
inauguratea1639
behallow1648
sanctificatea1677
sanctize1691
mancipate1715
sacrate1755
sacrify1827
sacrament1829
sacralize1933
1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 167 Whan the great Kirk was sacrify'd.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrifice or a sacrifice > [noun]
ofleteeOE
almousOE
houselOE
yieldOE
lakeOE
offeringOE
offeranda1225
sacrificea1300
hosta1340
sacrifyingc1374
mannaa1382
incense1382
oblationc1425
hostie1483
obleya1500
sacrificy?c1510
immolation1534
offerture1537
offrage1548
mactation1563
offertory1596
sacrificing1601
litation1623
elibation1656
sacrification1694
sacrificature1779
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Cambr.) iv. met. vii. 114 The sory preest yeuith in sacryfyinge the wrechched kuttynge of throte of the douhter.
a1400 K. Alis. (Bodl.) 272 To goddes I made sacrifyeynge.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1909; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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