English · Word Candidate

sacrifice

/ˈsæk.ɹɪ.faɪs/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: sacrifices · sacrificing · sacrificed

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Originally, the killing (and often burning) of a human being or an animal as an offering to a deity; later, also the offering of an object to a deity.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Động vật hoặc con người bị giết và thường bị đốt như một món lễ vật cho một vị thần

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

They firſt vvaſh the dead body, paint him, clothe him, and ſo conueigh him to his Dormitorie, vvhich is ſpacious and neat, vvherein they bury his Armolets, Bracelets, Shackles and ſuch Treaſure, concluding their Ceremonies vvith Mimmicke geſtures and eiaculations: vvhich, vvith the Sacrifice of a Go

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A human being or an animal, or a physical object or immaterial thing (see etymology 1 sense 1.3), offered to a deity.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Con người, động vật hoặc vật thể được dâng lên cho một vị thần

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

O th'inchaunting vvords of that baſe ſlaue, / Made him to thinke Epeus pine-tree Horſe [i.e., the Trojan Horse] / A ſacrifize t'appeaſe Mineruas vvrath: […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To offer (a human being or an animal, or an object) to a deity.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Dâng lên một vị thần

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

And there ſhall bee no leauened bread ſeene with thee in all thy coaſts ſeuen dayes, neither ſhall there any thing of the fleſh, which thou ſacrificedſt the firſt day at Euen, remaine all night, vntill the morning.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To destroy or kill (a human being or an animal); specifically (sciences), to kill (an animal) for a scientific experiment or test.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Tiêu diệt hoặc giết một con người hoặc động vật

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

Condemn'd to ſacrifice his childiſh Years / To babling Ign'rance, and to empty Fears; […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “sacrifice” mean?

Originally, the killing (and often burning) of a human being or an animal as an offering to a deity; later, also the offering of an object to a deity.

Is “sacrifice” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.