Sacralisation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process of making something sacred or holy, often through rituals or ceremonies
2. The act of endowing an object, place, or concept with religious significance or sanctity
3. A transformation that elevates the status of a person, tradition, or institution to one of sacred importance

Etymology: Sacralisation is a plain, technical formation: the verb "sacralise" (to make sacred) with the noun-forming suffix "-ation" added. The verb itself is built on the adjective "sacral," which comes from Latin "sacer," meaning holy or consecrated, and the English verb ending "-ize" (spelled "-ise" in British usage) turns that adjective into a verb meaning to treat something as sacred or to give it a sacred character. The word's real interest lies in the chain of suffixes behind it. The "-ize" ending passed into English through Middle French and Late Latin, and it traces back to Ancient Greek "-izein," a verb-forming ending. The "-ation" ending came into English through Old French from Latin "-ātiō," which formed nouns of action or process. Put together, "sacralisation" names the act or process of making something sacred, so the word describes an action rather than a state.

Synonyms: sanctification, consecration