sacrifice
the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,031 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 8,849 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc. also: forfeit, forfeiture
- personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective)
- a loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value he had to sell his car at a considerable sacrifice
- the act of killing (an animal or person) in order to propitiate a deity also: ritual killing
- (baseball) an out that advances the base runners
verb
- endure the loss of also: give He gave his life for his childrenI gave two sons to the war
- kill or destroy The animals were sacrificed after the experimentThe general had to sacrifice several soldiers to save the regiment
- sell at a loss
sacrifice in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The fourth day is occupied with sacrifice, and the talk of Nestor.
The Odyssey of Homer · 751? BCE-651? BCE Homer · Chapter 1
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It was like the man to assume his responsibilities, to sacrifice himself in his service.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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Here his son Bryce was born, and here, two days later, the new-made mother made the supreme sacrifice of maternity.
The Valley of the Giants · Peter B. (Peter Bernard) Kyne · Chapter 1
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They grow up for Christ, believe fervently in Him, refuse to sacrifice to false gods, are tortured, and die filled with glory.
The Dream · Émile Zola · Chapter 1
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When you was young, you wouldn't have drove no woman into a corner for love, nor yet married her on a sacrifice.
The Torch and Other Tales · Eden Phillpotts · Chapter 1