sacred
adj.-
1 holy or religious (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediate Religionconnected to a god or a religion and treated with great respect.
consecrated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; considered holy.
ExampleThe monks consider the mountain to be sacred and visit it every year to pray.
ExampleThe temple was built on sacred ground, and visitors are required to remove their shoes before entering the inner sanctum.
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2 not to be changed (adj.) C1 Advanced Formaltoo important to be changed, ignored, or treated badly.
regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with; inviolable.
ExampleIn many families, the time spent eating dinner together is sacred.
ExampleThe right to free speech is seen as a sacred principle of their democracy, one that the government is sworn to protect at all costs.
- inviolable
- untouchable
- protected
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3 religious music or art (adj.) C1 Advanced Academic Musicrelating to religious music or art rather than popular or secular styles.
relating to religious rites or symbols; specifically used to categorise music, art, or literature intended for worship.
ExampleThe choir performed a beautiful piece of sacred music during the ceremony.
ExampleThe university's music department offers a specialised course in the history of sacred choral works from the Renaissance period.
From Middle English sacred, isacred, past participle of sacren, sakeren (“to make holy, hallow”), equivalent to sacre + -ed.