Resacralization

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. This term describes the act of redefining or renewing sacredness to a concept or place that has lost its spiritual value
2. The concept pertains to the restoration of sacredness to a previously revered idea, space, or object that has experienced a decline in its spiritual importance
3. The process of reinstating spiritual significance to something that had lost its holy status

Etymology: Resacralization is a plain formation: the prefix "re-", meaning "again" or "anew," attached to "sacralization," the noun for the process of making something sacred. Together they name the act of restoring sacred status to something that had lost it, or of renewing a sense of holiness in a place, object or idea. The base is itself a derived noun. "Sacralization" comes from "sacralize," a verb built on the adjective "sacral," which descends from Latin "sacer," meaning holy or set apart for the gods. The Latin root also gave English "sacred," "sacrifice" and "consecrate," so the same idea of setting something apart runs through this family of words.

Synonyms: re-consecration