Oblations

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /oʊˈbleɪʃənz/

Definitions

1. The ritualistic act of dedicating offerings or sacrifices to a divine power in a religious setting
2. Gifts or offerings presented in a religious ceremony as a sign of devotion or worship
3. Items or sacrifices devoted to a deity during spiritual or ceremonial rites

Etymology: "Oblations" is the plural of "oblation," a noun that has stayed close to its Latin sense of presenting something. The Latin "oblātiō" meant an offering, and it came from "offerō," "to offer, present," so the core idea of bringing something forward and setting it before someone has never really left the word. The English noun passed through Old French "oblacion" before arriving in Middle English as "oblacioun." Along the way it kept the sense of a gift given in worship, and it is still used mainly for religious contexts, such as the bread and wine presented at a Eucharist or sacrifices made to a deity.

Synonyms: offerings, sacrifices