Friday, August 27, 2010

Consulting the Dictionary: Altar Vs. Shrine

Altar: an elevated place or structure, as a mound or platform, at which religious rites are performed or on which sacrifices are offered to gods, ancestors, etc.

...from L. altare  (pl. altaria ), probably originally meaning "burnt offerings" (cf. L. adolere  "to worship, to offer sacrifice, to honor by burning sacrifices to"), but infl. by L. altus  "high." 


Shrine: any structure or place consecrated or devoted to some saint, holy person, or deity, as an altar, chapel, church, or temple.

...from O.E. scrin  "ark of the covenant, case for relics," from L. scrinium  "case or box for keeping papers," of unknown origin.


No comments:

Post a Comment