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   Sac·ri·fice

   /ˈsakrəˌfīs/

   

   noun

   • 1. an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to God or to a divine or supernatural figure: "they offer sacrifices to the spirits" Similar ritual slaughterhecatombimmolationofferingoblationself-sacrificeself-immolation
   • ▪ an animal, person, or object offered in a sacrifice. Similar (votive) offeringgiftoblationvictimburnt offering
   • ▪ an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy: "we must all be prepared to make sacrifices" Similar giving upabandonmentsurrenderforegoingrenouncingrenunciationrenouncementforfeiturelossrelinquishmentresignationabdicationsigning awayyieldingcedingwaivingrenunciationrelinquishmentlossself-sacrificesacrifice somethinggive up things
   • ▪ Christ's offering of himself in the Crucifixion.
   • ▪ the Eucharist regarded either (in Catholic terms) as a propitiatory offering of the body and blood of Christ or (in Protestant terms) as an act of thanksgiving.
   • ▪ a move intended to allow the opponent to win a pawn or piece, for strategic or tactical reasons.
   • ▪ a bunted ball that puts the batter out but allows a base runner or runners to advance.
   • ▪ a bid made in the belief that it will be less costly to be defeated in the contract than to allow the opponents to make a contract.

   verb

   • 1. offer or kill as a religious sacrifice: "the goat was sacrificed at the shrine" Similar offer upimmolateslaughter
   • ▪ give up (something important or valued) for the sake of other considerations: "working hard doesn't mean sacrificing your social life" Similar give upabandonsurrenderforgorenounceforfeitrelinquishresignabdicatesign awayyieldcedewaiveprostitutebetray
   • ▪ deliberately allow one's opponent to win (a pawn or piece).
   • ▪ advance (a base runner) by a sacrifice.
   • ▪ make a sacrifice bid.

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin sacrificium; related to sacrificus ‘sacrificial’, from sacer ‘holy’.

   Scrabble Points: 16

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