sacrifice Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
forfeit; forfeiture.
noun personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective)
noun a loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value
- he had to sell his car at a considerable sacrifice
noun the act of killing (an animal or person) in order to propitiate a deity
ritual killing.
noun (baseball) an out that advances the base runners
verb endure the loss of
give.
- He gave his life for his children
- I gave two sons to the war
verb kill or destroy
- The animals were sacrificed after the experiment
- The general had to sacrifice several soldiers to save the regiment
verb sell at a loss
verb make a sacrifice of; in religious rituals

OE. sacrifise, sacrifice, F. sacrifice, fr. L. sacrificium; sacer sacer + facere to make. See Sacred, and Fact.

The offering of anything to God, or to a god; consecratory rite.
Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud, To Dagon. Milton.
Anything consecrated and offered to God, or to a divinity; an immolated victin, or an offering of any kind, laid upon an altar, or otherwise presented in the way of religious thanksgiving, atonement, or conciliation.
Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human sacrifice. Milton.

My life, if thou preserv's my life, Thy sacrifice shall be. Addison.
Destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else; devotion of some desirable object in behalf of a higher object, or to a claim deemed more pressing; hence, also, the thing so devoted or given up; as, the sacrifice of interest to pleasure, or of pleasure to interest.
A sale at a price less than the cost or the actual value. Tradesmen's Cant

From Sacrifice, n.: cf. F. sacrifier, L. sacrificare; sacer sacred, holy + -ficare (only in comp.) to make. See -fy.

imperfect & past participle Sacrificed ; present participle & verbal noun Sacrificing

To make an offering of; to consecrate or present to a divinity by way of expiation or propitiation, or as a token acknowledgment or thanksgiving; to immolate on the altar of God, in order to atone for sin, to procure favor, or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a sheep.
Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid. Milton.
Hence, to destroy, surrender, or suffer to be lost, for the sake of obtaining something; to give up in favor of a higher or more imperative object or duty; to devote, with loss or suffering.
Condemned to sacrifice his childish years To babbling ignorance, and to empty fears. Prior.

The Baronet had sacrificed a large sum . . . for the sake of . . . making this boy his heir. G. Eliot.
To destroy; to kill. Johnson.
To sell at a price less than the cost or the actual value. Tradesmen's Cant

To make offerings to God, or to a deity, of things consumed on the altar; to offer sacrifice.
O teacher, some great mischief hath befallen To that meek man, who well had sacrificed. Milton.