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Webster 1913 Edition
Sacrament
Sac′ra-ment
,Noun.
[L.
sacramentum
an oath, a sacred thing, a mystery, a sacrament, fr. sacrare
to declare as sacred, sacer
sacred: cf. F. sacrement
. See Sacred
.] 1.
The oath of allegiance taken by Roman soldiers; hence, a sacred ceremony used to impress an obligation; a solemn oath-taking; an oath.
[Obs.]
I’ll take the
sacrament
on't. Shakespeare
2.
The pledge or token of an oath or solemn covenant; a sacred thing; a mystery.
[Obs.]
God sometimes sent a light of fire, and pillar of a cloud . . . and the
sacrament
of a rainbow, to guide his people through their portion of sorrows. Jer. Taylor.
3.
(Theol.)
One of the solemn religious ordinances enjoined by Christ, the head of the Christian church, to be observed by his followers; hence, specifically, the eucharist; the Lord's Supper.
– Protestants apply the term sacrament to baptism and the Lord's Supper, especially the latter. The R. Cath. and Greek churches have five other sacraments, viz., confirmation, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction. As sacrament denotes an oath or vow, the word has been applied by way of emphasis to the Lord's Supper, where the most sacred vows are renewed by the Christian in commemorating the death of his Redeemer. Eucharist denotes the giving of thanks; and this term also has been applied to the same ordinance, as expressing the grateful remembrance of Christ's sufferings and death. “Some receive the sacrament as a means to procure great graces and blessings; others as an eucharist and an office of thanksgiving for what they have received.”
Jer. Taylor.
Sac′ra-ment
,Verb.
T.
To bind by an oath.
[Obs.]
Laud.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sacrament
SAC'RAMENT
,Noun.
1.
Among ancient christian writers, a mystery. [Not in use.]2.
An oath; a ceremony producing an obligation; but not used in this general sense.3.
In present usage, an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace; or more particularly, a solemn religious ceremony enjoined by Christ, the head of the christian church, to be observed by his followers, by which their special relation to him is created, or their obligations to him renewed and ratified. Thus baptism is called a sacrament, for by it persons are separated from the world, brought into Christ's visible church, and laid under particular obligations to obey his precepts. The eucharist or communion of the Lord's supper, is also a sacrament, for by commemorating the death and dying love of Christ, christians avow their special relation to him, and renew their obligations to be faithful to their divine Master. When we use sacrament without any qualifying word, we mean by it,4.
The eucharist or Lord's supper.SAC'RAMENT
,Verb.
T.