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consecrate

verb/ˈkɑ:n.sə.kreɪt/

definition

to make or declare something sacred or holy

example

The community gathered to consecrate the new chapel, marking it as a place of worship and reflection.

synonyms
sanctifyhallowdedicate
word origin — from Latin 'consecratus', past participle of 'consecrāre', from 'con-' (together) + 'sacrāre' (to make sacred, dedicate)

consecrate, ferment, accentuate, submerge, defuse: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 277. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. consecrate · verb/ˈkɑ:n.sə.kreɪt/

    to make or declare something sacred or holy

    The community gathered to consecrate the new chapel, marking it as a place of worship and reflection.

    Synonyms: sanctify, hallow, dedicate

    Origin: from Latin 'consecratus', past participle of 'consecrāre', from 'con-' (together) + 'sacrāre' (to make sacred, dedicate)

  2. ferment · verb/fərˈmɛnt/

    a biochemical process involving the conversion of sugars to acids, gases, or alcohol by microorganisms

    During the brewing process, yeast is added to the wort to ferment the sugars into alcohol and carbonation.

    Synonyms: brew, fermentate, culture

    Origin: From Old French 'fermenter', from Latin 'fermentare', from 'fermentum' meaning 'leaven, yeast'

  3. accentuate · verb/ækˈsɛn.tʃu.eɪt/

    to make something more noticeable or prominent

    The designer chose to accentuate the model's features by applying dramatic makeup and clever lighting.

    Synonyms: emphasize, highlight, stress

    Origin: from Latin 'accentuare', meaning 'to intensify'; from 'accentus', meaning 'a song, note, or tone'.

  4. submerge · verb/səbˈmɜrdʒ/

    to put or sink beneath the surface of a liquid

    The divers will submerge themselves in the ocean to explore the coral reefs.

    Synonyms: dunk, submersion, immerse

    Origin: from Latin 'submergere', where 'sub-' means 'under' and 'mergere' means 'to dip or plunge'.

  5. defuse · verb/dɪˈfjuz/

    to reduce the tension or danger in a situation

    The negotiator worked tirelessly to defuse the escalating conflict between the two rival factions.

    Synonyms: de-escalate, calm down, alleviate

    Origin: The word 'defuse' is derived from the prefix 'de-' meaning 'removal' or 'reversal' and 'fuse', which comes from the Latin 'fusus', meaning 'to melt' or 'to pour out'. The original meaning refers to removing the fuse from an explosive device.