† ˈsacrify, v. Obs.
[a. OF. sacrifi-er (12th c.), ad. L. sacrificāre, f. sacrific-us: see sacrific.]
1. trans. To offer as a sacrifice.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 10389 Þam hale þan sacrified he, And delt þam siþen al thre. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 336 And forth unto the temple he com.., Hise yiftes forto sacrifie. 1484 Caxton Fables of Auian xxvii, Thow shalt be take..and shalt be sacryfyed to theyre goddes. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. in Cath. Tractates (S.T.S.) 181 Melchizedec sacrifeit breid and wyne in figure of the bodie and bloud of our lord. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 49 A mightie mazer bowle of wine was set As if it had to him been sacrifide. |
| refl. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xxiv. 87 Alwayes she doubted her self in noo wyse, that her suster wolde..sacryfye hir self with funerailles mortalle, by fyre horrible. |
2. intr. To offer sacrifice.
| a 1325 Prose Psalter liii[i]. 6 Y shal sacrifye to þe wyþ gode wylle. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints v. (Johannes) 295 Þa..to þe tempil of dyane drew hym rudly, ore þai fane, for to strenȝe hym to sacrify. 1382 Wyclif Exod. x. 11 Go ȝe oonly men, and sacryfye to the Lord. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. iii. i. 120 He sulde..Deuotly to God sacryfy. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions i. v. 52 That there might be none occasion of filthinesse, when they shold ministre or sacrifie. |
3. trans. To offer sacrifice to.
| 1474 Caxton Chesse iii. v. (1883) 124 As he sacrefyed his goddes he receyuyd lettres from the senate of rome. 1491 ― Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. lv. 111 [He] was broughte..in to a temple of ydolatrye..for to adoure and sacrefye the ydolles. |
4. nonce-use. To consecrate.
| 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 167 Whan the great Kirk was sacrify'd. |
Hence
† ˈsacrifying vbl. n.| 13.. K. Alis. 272 (Bodl. MS.) To goddes I made sacrifyeynge. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iv. met. vii. 114 (Camb. MS.) The sory preest yeuith in sacryfyinge the wrechched kuttynge of throte of the douhter. |