altar
/ˈɔːltə
/ /ˈɒltə/noun
1The table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services.His mice are to be found everywhere: scurrying across church pews and altars, sitting on oak ashtrays, inside clock cases and on oak bookends, even peeking out from beneath oak dining tables and chairs designed for grand country homes....
- In addition, above the altar in the side chapel, the church has placed a large painting by Mr Willson.
- The stained glass windows behind the altar in Glann Church are in need of repair.
1.1A table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.Ancient rituals have been revived, sacrificial altars rebuilt and lunar patterns observed with increasing attention....
- But throughout the Old Testament we find human beings coming to God and finding fellowship with him at altars where sacrifices were made.
- If it is certain that Maya altars received offerings or ritual goods, the particular ritual actions performed at these stones remains wholly unclear.
Phrases
lead someone to the altar
sacrifice someone/thing on/at the altar of
Origin
Old English altar, alter, based on late Latin altar, altarium, from Latin altus 'high'.
altitude from Late Middle English:
Altitude is from Latin altitudo, from altus ‘high’. The latter is also the source of altar (Old English), a raised structure for worship, enhance (Middle English), originally ‘make higher’; exalt (Late Middle English), with ex- ‘out, upwards’; and haughty (mid 16th century), from altus via French haut.