hallow

/hə'lou /

Thân thiện

The priest hallows the new chapel with a blessing.

Definition

Verb: 1. To make holy or sacred; to consecrate: The primary meaning of 'hallow' is to set apart as holy, to bless, or to sanctify through a religious ceremony or rite. 2. To honor as holy; to revere: It can also mean to regard or treat something with the highest respect, as if it were sacred.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (to consecrate):
  • The priest will hallow the new chapel during the dedication service.
  • Ancient rituals were performed to hallow the burial ground.
• Verb (to honor or revere):
  • We hallow the memory of those who sacrificed their lives.
  • The site is hallowed by centuries of prayer and pilgrimage.

Advanced Usage

• "Hallow" as a past participle (hallowed): Most commonly used as an adjective meaning 'made holy,' 'sacred,' or 'greatly respected.'
  • They stood on hallowed ground. (The ground was made sacred by a religious rite or is deeply revered.)
  • The hallowed halls of the ancient university. (The university is treated with the highest respect and veneration.)
• "To hallow God's name": A phrase found in religious contexts, such as in the Lord's Prayer ("Hallowed be thy name"), meaning to treat God's name as holy and sacred.

Variants and Related Words

• Hallowed (adj): Made holy or sacred; deeply respected and revered.
  • A hallowed tradition.
• Hallow (noun, archaic): A saint or holy person. (This usage is now very rare.)
• Unhallow (verb, rare): To profane or desecrate; to make not holy.

Synonyms

• Consecrate: To declare or set apart as sacred.
• Sanctify: To set apart as holy or to free from sin.
• Bless: To make holy by a religious rite; to invoke divine favor upon.
• Venerate: To regard with great respect or reverence.

Antonyms

• Desecrate: To treat a sacred place or thing with violent disrespect.
• Profane: To treat something sacred with irreverence or disrespect.
• Defile: To make unclean or impure, especially in a sacred context.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Hallowed ground/place: A place that is considered sacred or deeply revered, often due to historical or religious significance.
  • The battlefield is now considered hallowed ground.
• Hallowed be thy name: A direct quotation from a traditional Christian prayer, meaning "may your name be treated as holy."

Học thuật

Verb

1. render holy by means of religious rites

Từ đồng nghĩa

• consecrate
• bless
• sanctify