Sacrament

Origin

From Ecclesiastical Latin sacrāmentum ("sacrament"), from Latin sacrō ("hallow, consecrate"), from sacer ("sacred, holy"), originally sum deposited by parties to a suit.

Full definition of sacrament

Noun

1. (Islam) The rites in the five pillars of Islam.
• 1978, Kenneth Cragg, Islam and the Muslim, page 62
• 1992, Jeffrey J. Coonjohn, Stories from the front, Page 62
2. (Christianity) A sacred act or ceremony in Christianity. In Roman Catholic theology, a sacrament is defined as "an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace."
3. The pledge or token of an oath or solemn covenant; a sacred thing; a mystery.
• Jeremy TaylorGod 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.
4. The oath of allegiance taken by soldiers in Ancient Rome; hence, a sacred ceremony used to impress an obligation; a solemn oath-taking; an oath.
• ShakespeareI'll take the sacrament on 't.