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Sacred
Something that is sacred is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity or considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspiring awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a “sacred artifact” that is venerated and blessed), or places (“sacred ground”).
French sociologist Émile Durkheim considered the dichotomy between the sacred and the profane to be the central characteristic of religion: “religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden.” In Durkheim’s theory, the sacred represented the interests of the group, especially unity, which were embodied in sacred group symbols, or totems. The profane, on the other hand, involved mundane individual concerns.
Although there are similarities between the terms “sacred” and “holy” and they are sometimes used interchangeably, there are subtle differences. “Holiness” is generally the term used in relation to persons and relationship, while “sacredness” is used in relation to objects, places, or happenings. Thus a saint may be considered as holy, but would not be viewed as sacred.
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Sacred (adjective)
Characterized by solemn religious ceremony or religious use, especially, in a positive sense; consecrated; made holy.
“a sacred place; a sacred day; sacred service”
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Sacred (adjective)
Religious; relating to religion, or to the services of religion; not secular
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Sacred (adjective)
Spiritual; concerned with metaphysics.
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Sacred (adjective)
Designated or exalted by a divine sanction; possessing the highest title to obedience, honor, reverence, or veneration; entitled to extreme reverence; venerable.
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Sacred (adjective)
Not to be profaned or violated; inviolable.
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Sacred (adjective)
Consecrated; dedicated; devoted
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Sacred (adjective)
Solemnly devoted, in a bad sense, as to evil, vengeance, curse, or the like; accursed; baleful.
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Sacred (verb)
simple past tense and past participle of sacre
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Spiritual (adjective)
Of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul.
“Respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual practice.”
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Spiritual (adjective)
Of or pertaining to God or a place of worship; sacred.
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Spiritual (adjective)
Of or pertaining to spirits; supernatural.
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Spiritual (adjective)
Consisting of spirit; not material; incorporeal.
“a spiritual substance or being”
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Spiritual (adjective)
Of or relating to the intellectual and higher endowments of the mind; mental; intellectual.
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Spiritual (adjective)
Controlled and inspired by the Holy Spirit; pure; holy.
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Spiritual (adjective)
Not lay or temporal; relating to sacred things; ecclesiastical.
“the spiritual functions of the clergy; lords spiritual and temporal; a spiritual corporation”
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Spiritual (noun)
A Christian religious song, especially one in an African-American style, or a similar non-religious song.
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Spiritual (noun)
Any spiritual function, office, or affair.
“He assigns supremacy to the pope in spirituals, and to the emperor in temporals. — Lowell.”
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Sacred (adjective)
connected with God or a god or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration
“sacred rites”
“the site at Eleusis is sacred to Demeter”
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Sacred (adjective)
religious rather than secular
“sacred music”
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Sacred (adjective)
(of writing or text) embodying the laws or doctrines of a religion
“a sacred Hindu text”
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Sacred (adjective)
regarded with great respect and reverence by a particular religion, group, or individual
“cows are sacred and the eating of beef is taboo”
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Sacred (adjective)
regarded as too valuable to be interfered with; sacrosanct
“a profit-oriented public to whom nothing is sacred”