sacrifice

Where does the word "sacrifice" come from? It comes from Latin sacrificium, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Sacrifice’s story begins in Latin: sacrificium meant “a making sacred.” Literally a making sacred, from sacer (sacred) and facere (to make). It reached English by 1200s as sacrifice. Settled as the English word for giving up something valuable for a higher purpose. Today, sacrifice means the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something considered more important.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sacrificium "a making sacred", literally a making sacred, from sacer (sacred) and facere (to make).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s sacrifice "the giving up of something valuable for a higher purpose", settled as the English word for giving up something valuable for a higher purpose.