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Sacred vs Spiritual - What's the difference?

sacred | spiritual |

As adjectives the difference between sacred and spiritual

is that sacred is set apart by solemn religious ceremony; especially, in a good sense, made holy; set apart to religious use; consecrated; not profane or common; as, a sacred place; a sacred day; sacred service while spiritual is of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul.

As a verb sacred

is past tense of sacre.

As a noun spiritual is

a Christian religious song, especially one in an African-American style, or a similar non-religious song.

sacred

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) sacred, isacred, past participle of (etyl) sacren, .

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Set apart by solemn religious ceremony; especially, in a good sense, made holy; set apart to religious use; consecrated; not profane or common; as, a sacred' place; a '''sacred''' day; ' sacred service.
  • Relating to religion, or to the services of religion; not secular; religious; as, sacred history.
    • Smit with the love of sacred song. -.
  • Designated or exalted by a divine sanction; possessing the highest title to obedience, honor, reverence, or veneration; entitled to extreme reverence; venerable.
    • Such neighbor nearness to our sacred [royal] blood Should nothing privilege him.
    Poet and saint to thee alone were given, The two most sacred names of earth and heaven. -Cowley.
  • Hence, not to be profaned or violated; inviolable.
    • Secrets of marriage still are sacred held. -.
  • Consecrated; dedicated; devoted; -- with to.
    • A temple, sacred to the queen of love. -.
  • (archaic) Solemnly devoted, in a bad sense, as to evil, vengeance, curse, or the like; accursed; baleful.
    • But, to destruction sacred and devote. -.
    Synonyms
    * (made holy) (dedicated) consecrated * divine * godly * hallowed * holy * (not to be profaned) inviolable * sacrosanct
    Antonyms
    * cursed * damned * profane * unholy * ungodly

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (head)
  • (sacre)

    • Anagrams

    *

    spiritual

    English

    Alternative forms

    * spirituall, spirytual, spirytuall, spyritual, spyrituall, spyrytual, spyrytuall

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul.
    • Respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual practice.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
    • God's law is spiritual ; it is a transcript of the divine nature, and extends its authority to the acts of the soul of man.
  • Of or pertaining to God or a place of worship; sacred.
  • Of or pertaining to spirits; supernatural.
  • Consisting of spirit; not material; incorporeal.
    • a spiritual substance or being
  • * Bible, 1. Corinthians xv. 44
    • It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
  • Of or relating to the intellectual and higher endowments of the mind; mental; intellectual.
  • (Christianity) Controlled and inspired by the Holy Spirit; pure; holy.
  • * Bible, Gal. vi. 1
    • If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual , restore such an one.
  • Not lay or temporal; relating to sacred things; ecclesiastical.
    • the spiritual''' functions of the clergy; lords '''spiritual''' and temporal; a '''spiritual corporation

    Derived terms

    * antispiritual * antispiritualism * antispirituality * spiritual desertion * spiritualism * spiritualist * spirituality * spiritually

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A Christian religious song, especially one in an African-American style, or a similar non-religious song.
  • Any spiritual function, office, or affair.
    • He assigns supremacy to the pope in spirituals , and to the emperor in temporals. — Lowell.