Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Etymology: Sacrifice

History


Sacrifice was borrowed from Old French, ultimately combining two parts the Sacri which means to set apart as sacred, and facere to make.   So a sacrifice means to set apart something in order to make it dedicated to a Deity.   Abraham sacrificed his son, in order to set apart a nation for God. 

Quote


 To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.
Steve Prefontaine

Ngram Popularity


Sacrifice was a word that hit its most popular use in the period right before the Civil War.   Sacrifice was the highest form of works for a citizen to do.   The word was often used in conjunction with the Christian Church, and especially concerning Jesus Christ mighty work.





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