English

Noun

sacrum ‎(plural sacra or sacrums)

1. (anatomy) A large triangular bone located at the base of the spine between the two hipbones of pelvis and formed from fused vertebrae.

Derived terms

• sacral

Translations

Anagrams

• Marcus

Latin

Etymology

From sacer ‎(“sacred, holy”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈsa.krum/, [ˈsa.krũ]

Noun

sacrum n ‎(genitive sacrī); second declension

1. A holy or sacred object, e.g. vessel, statue, utensil.
2. A holy or sacred place, e.g. sanctuary, shrine, temple.
3. A religious act or observance, e.g. a sacrifice, festival, rite.
4. Divine worship or religion.
   • c. 54-51 BCE, Cicero, De re publica, 2.7.13

     quo foedere et Sabinos in civitatem adscivit sacris conmunicatis et regnum suum cum illorum rege sociavit

     By this compact he admitted the Sabines into the city, gave them a participation in the religious ceremonies, and divided his power with their king.

5. The private religious rites of a family.
   • c. 51 BCE, Cicero, De Legibus, 2.9.22

     sacra privata perpetua manento

     Let private devotions be perpetually practised.

6. (only in plural) Poems (as sacred to the muse).
   • c. 8-18 AD, Ovid, Tristia, 4.10.19

     at mihi iam puero caelestia sacra placebant inque suum furtim Musa trahebat opus

     But even as a boy the heavenly poems delighted me, and the Muse was drawing me secretly to her work.

7. (only in plural, post-Augustan) Secrets, mysteries.
   • 8 AD, Ovid, Metamorphoses, 7.709

     sacra tori coitusque novos thalamosque recentes primaque deserti referebam foedera lecti

     I told Aurora of our wedding secrets and all refreshing mysteries of coition – and my first union on my now-deserted couch.

Inflection

Second declension.

Adjective

sacrum

1. nominative neuter singular of sacer
2. accusative masculine singular of sacer
3. accusative neuter singular of sacer
4. vocative neuter singular of sacer

Related terms

References

• sacrum in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• sacrum in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• SACRUM in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• Félix Gaffiot (1934), “sacrum”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
• Meissner, Carl; Auden, Henry William (1894) Latin Phrase-Book, London: Macmillan and Co.
  • to be present at divine service (of the people): sacris adesse
    
  • to be initiated into the mysteries of a cult: sacris initiari (Quintil. 12. 10. 14)
    
  • (ambiguous) ritual; ceremonial: sacra, res divinae, religiones, caerimoniae
    
  • (ambiguous) to sacrifice: sacra, sacrificium facere (ἱερὰ ῥέζειν), sacrificare
    
  • (ambiguous) to profane sacred rites: sacra polluere et violare
    
• sacrum in William Smith., editor (1854, 1857) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, volume 1 & 2, London: Walton and Maberly