From Middle English sacrament, from Old French sacrement, from el. sacrāmentum, from Latin sacrō, from sacer ("sacred, holy"), originally sum deposited by parties to a suit.

• IPA: /ˈsækɹəmənt/

sacrament (plural sacraments)

1. (Christianity) A sacred act and the attendant ceremony, considered (theology) an outward sign of divine grace.

   Coordinate term: ordinance

2. (in particular) The Eucharist.
3. The consecrated Eucharist (especially the bread).
4. (by extension) A thing which is regarded as possessing a sacred character or mysterious significance.
   • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “[XXVIII Sermons Preached at Golden Grove; Being for the Summer Half-year, […].] Sermon IX. The Faith and Patience of the Saints: Or The Righteous Cause Oppressed.”, in ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1654, →OCLC ↗, page 105 ↗:

     God ſometimes ſent a light of fire, and pillar of a cloud, and the brightneſſe of an Angel, and the luſtre of a ſtar, and the ſacrament of a rainbovve to guide his people thorovv their portion of ſorrovvs, and to lead them through troubles to reſt: […]

5. (Ancient Rome) The oath of allegiance taken by soldiers in Ancient Rome; hence, any sacred ceremony used to impress an obligation; a solemn oath-taking; an oath.
   • c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All's Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene iii]:

     I'll take the sacrament on 't.

• French: sacrement
• German: Sakrament
• Italian: sacramento
• Portuguese: sacramento
• Russian: та́инство
• Spanish: sacramento

sacrament (sacraments, present participle sacramenting; simple past and past participle sacramented)

1. (transitive) To bind by an oath.