sacrāmentum
neuter
The English word 'sacrament' is translated into Latin as sacrāmentum.
The term refers to a sacred act or ceremony. In a more theological context, the word mysterium can be used to express 'sacrament'.
Meaning: sacred act or ceremony (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word sacrāmentum originally referred to a soldier's oath of allegiance or a sacred vow.
How does it change in a sentence?
sacrāmentum is a neuter noun. The neuter noun sacrāmentum changes its ending to sacrāmentō in the dative or ablative singular cases. The plural form for the dative or ablative cases is sacrāmentīs.
Did you know?
- In the Roman legal system, a sacrāmentum was a financial wager deposited by two opposing parties during a lawsuit to guarantee the truth of their claims.
- The English word 'sacrifice' is a linguistic cousin of sacrāmentum, as both share the Latin root sacrāre, which means to set something apart as holy.
- Early Christians repurposed the military term sacrāmentum to describe their rituals because it emphasized the 'sacred bond' created between the believer and the divine.
Examples in context
- septem sacramentaThe seven sacraments
- Sacrāmentum est sanctum.The sacrament is holy.
- Sacrāmentum nostrum magnum est.Our sacrament is great.
Example conversation
Julia and Marcus are discussing a religious rite.
- JuliaQuid est hoc sacrāmentum, Marce?What is this sacrament, Marcus?
- MarcusEst sacrāmentum fīdēī, Iūlia.It is a sacrament of faith, Julia.
- JuliaEstne hoc sacrāmentum antiquum?Is this sacrament ancient?
- MarcusIta, hoc sacrāmentum prīscum est.Yes, this sacrament is ancient.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sacrament” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
