sacrifice
Definitions
The act of giving up something valued for a greater purpose.
牺牲；舍弃。
An offering to a deity, often a slaughtered animal.
祭品；献祭。
To give up something for the sake of something else.
牺牲；献出。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedsacri (from sacer, 'sacred') + fice (weakened fac, 'make/do') = 'to make sacred.' Latin sacrificium meant 'the making of a sacred offering' — to sacrifice was to perform the act that made something holy by offering it to a god. From the ritual sense came the modern one: giving up something precious for a higher cause.
Root sacr still carries 10 more wordsWhy It Means This
Sacrifice literally means 'to make sacred' (sacer + facere). In its original religious sense, an offering became holy the moment it was given to a god. The modern, secular meaning kept the core of 'giving something up' but dropped the altar: today you sacrifice time, money, or comfort for a goal — the loss is the offering.
Common Collocations
- 1.make a sacrifice做出牺牲
- 2.ultimate sacrifice最崇高的牺牲
- 3.personal sacrifice个人牺牲
- 4.sacrifice for为……牺牲
- 5.worth the sacrifice值得牺牲
Example Sentences
- 1.
She sacrificed her career to raise her children.
- 2.
Soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
- 3.
Ancient peoples offered animal sacrifices to the gods.