sacred

Where does the word "sacred" come from? It comes from Latin sacer, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Sacred’s story begins in Latin: sacer meant “holy, consecrated.” The root of 'sacrifice', 'sacrament' and 'desecrate'. Within Latin, it grew into sacrare by ancient. The root of 'sacrifice', 'sacrament' and 'saint'. From there it passed into Old French as sacrer by medieval. Carried into French for anointing or consecrating something. It reached English by 1300s as sacred. Settled as the English word for something regarded as holy and deserving reverence. Today, sacred means regarded as holy and deserving of great reverence and respect.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sacer "holy, consecrated", the root of 'sacrifice', 'sacrament' and 'desecrate'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient sacrare "to consecrate, to make holy", the root of 'sacrifice', 'sacrament' and 'saint'.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval sacrer "to anoint or consecrate something", carried into French for anointing or consecrating something.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s sacred "regarded as holy and deserving great reverence", settled as the English word for something regarded as holy and deserving reverence.