hallow
/hə'lou /
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."
Verb
-
render holy by means of religious rites
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