Deconsecrating: meaning, definitions and examples
✝️
deconsecrating
[ diːˈkɒnsɪkreɪtɪŋ ]
religious context
Deconsecrating refers to the act of removing the sacred status from a religious site or object. This process usually involves a formal ceremony that may include prayers or rituals to signal the withdrawal of divine presence or blessing.
Synonyms
de sanctify, defile, desecrate
Examples of usage
- The church was deconsecrating the chapel after its closure.
- They held a ceremony deconsecrating the old cemetery.
- After the church was abandoned, the community discussed deconsecrating the building.
Word origin
The term 'deconsecrate' is derived from the prefix 'de-', which indicates reversal or removal, and 'consecrate', which comes from the Latin 'consecratus,' meaning 'to make sacred.' The Latin root includes 'con-', meaning 'with' or 'together', and 'sacrare,' meaning 'to make holy.' The combination of these roots reflects the transition from sacred to secular, particularly in a religious context. Over time, the word evolved in English, with references to the formal process of transforming places or objects previously regarded as holy. The use of 'deconsecrate' has mainly been associated with changes in status of churches, religious artifacts, and properties, especially during times of religious reformation or decline in practice.