Definitions for: Sacrifice


[n] (in baseball) an out that advances the base runners
[n] the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
[n] the act of killing (an animal or person) in order to propitiate a deity
[n] personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective)
[n] a loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value; "he had to sell his car at a considerable sacrifice"
[v] kill or destroy; "The animals were sacrificed after the experiment"; "The general had to sacrifice several soldiers to save the regiment"
[v] make a sacrifice of; in religious rituals
[v] endure the loss of; "He gave his life for his children"; "I gave two sons to the war"
[v] sell at a loss



Webster (1913) Definition: Sac"ri*fice (?; 277), n. [OE. sacrifise, sacrifice,
F. sacrifice, fr. L. sacrificium; sacer sacred + facere to
make. See Sacred, and Fact.]
1. The offering of anything to God, or to a god; consecratory
rite.

Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud, To
Dagon. --Milton.

2. Anything consecrated and offered to God, or to a divinity;
an immolated victim, or an offering of any kind, laid upon
an altar, or otherwise presented in the way of religious
thanksgiving, atonement, or conciliation.

Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human
sacrifice. --Milton.

My life, if thou preserv'st my life, Thy sacrifice
shall be. --Addison.

3. Destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of
something else; devotion of some desirable object in
behalf of a higher object, or to a claim deemed more
pressing; hence, also, the thing so devoted or given up;
as, the sacrifice of interest to pleasure, or of pleasure
to interest.

4. A sale at a price less than the cost or the actual value.
[Tradesmen's Cant]

Burnt sacrifice. See Burnt offering, under Burnt.

Sacrifice hit (Baseball), in batting, a hit of such a kind
that the batter loses his chance of tallying, but enables
one or more who are on bases to get home or gain a base.


Sac"ri*fice (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Sacrificed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sacrificing.] [From
Sacrifice, n.: cf. F. sacrifier, L. sacrificare; sacer
sacred, holy + -ficare (only in comp.) to make. See -fy.]
1. To make an offering of; to consecrate or present to a
divinity by way of expiation or propitiation, or as a
token acknowledgment or thanksgiving; to immolate on the
altar of God, in order to atone for sin, to procure favor,
or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a
sheep.

Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid. --Milton.

2. Hence, to destroy, surrender, or suffer to be lost, for
the sake of obtaining something; to give up in favor of a
higher or more imperative object or duty; to devote, with
loss or suffering.

Condemned to sacrifice his childish years To
babbling ignorance, and to empty fears. --Prior.

The Baronet had sacrificed a large sum . . . for the
sake of . . . making this boy his heir. --G. Eliot.

3. To destroy; to kill. --Johnson.

4. To sell at a price less than the cost or the actual value.
[Tradesmen's Cant]


Sac"ri*fice, v. i.
To make offerings to God, or to a deity, of things consumed
on the altar; to offer sacrifice.

O teacher, some great mischief hath befallen To that
meek man, who well had sacrificed. --Milton.

Synonyms: forfeit, forfeiture, give, ritual killing

See Also: act, free, give up, hecatomb, human action, human activity, immolate, immolation, kill, kill, killing, loss, loss, offer, offer up, personnel casualty, putout, putting to death, release, relinquish, resign, sacrifice fly, sell

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