Definition

Noun: - A churchyard; the burial ground surrounding or adjacent to a church. The term is a poetic or archaic synonym for a cemetery that is specifically associated with a Christian church.

Usage

The term "God's acre" is used to refer to the consecrated ground where the deceased are buried, emphasizing its sacred nature as a resting place entrusted to God's care. It is primarily a literary or formal term.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The phrase evokes a traditional, often rural, image of a churchyard. It is less common in modern, everyday speech than "churchyard" or "cemetery."
• It can be used metaphorically to suggest a final, peaceful resting place.

Variants and Related Words

• Churchyard (n): The more common, standard term for the ground around a church, often used as a burial ground.
• Cemetery (n): A burial ground, not necessarily attached to a church.
• Graveyard (n): A synonym for cemetery, often smaller or associated with a church.

Synonyms

• Churchyard
• Burial ground
• Graveyard (in the context of a church)

Related Phrases

• Hallowed ground: Consecrated or sacred land, often used for burial sites.
  • The soldiers were laid to rest in hallowed ground.

Noun

1. the yard associated with a church