altar

[al·tar]

An altar is a raised area in a house of worship where people can honor God with offerings. It is prominent in the Bible as "God's table," a sacred place for sacrifices and gifts offered up to God.

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A raised structure (as a square or oblong erection of stone or wood) on which sacrifices are offered or incense burned to a deity.

Noun
a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made

Noun
the table in Christian churches where communion is given

n.
A raised structure (as a square or oblong erection of stone or wood) on which sacrifices are offered or incense burned to a deity.

n.
In the Christian church, a construction of stone, wood, or other material for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; the communion table.

Altar

Al"tar , n. [OE. alter, auter, autier, fr. L. altare, pl. altaria, altar, prob. fr. altus high: cf. OF. alter, autier, F. autel. Cf. Altitude.] 1. A raised structure (as a square or oblong erection of stone or wood) on which sacrifices are offered or incense burned to a deity.

Noah builded an altar unto the Lord.

2. In the Christian church, a construction of stone, wood, or other material for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; the communion table. &hand; Altar is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound; as, altar bread or altar-bread. Altar cloth or Altar-cloth, the cover for an altar in a Christian church, usually richly embroidered. -- Altar cushion, a cushion laid upon the altar in a Christian church to support the service book. -- Altar frontal. See Frontal. -- Altar rail, the railing in front of the altar or communion table. -- Altar screen, a wall or partition built behind an altar to protect it from approach in the rear. -- Altar tomb, a tomb resembling an altar in shape, etc. -- Family altar, place of family devotions. -- To lead (as a bride) to the altar, to marry; -- said of a woman.

A raised structure (as a square or oblong erection of stone or wood) on which sacrifices are offered or incense burned to a deity.

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Usage Examples

It all happened so fast. The ghetto. The deportation. The sealed cattle car. The fiery altar upon which the history of our people and the future of mankind were meant to be sacrificed.

I am a lover of truth, a worshipper of freedom, a celebrant at the altar of language and purity and tolerance.

The State is the altar of political freedom and, like the religious altar, it is maintained for the purpose of human sacrifice.

I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Misspelled Form

altar, qaltar, waltar, saltar, zaltar, qltar, wltar, sltar, zltar, aqltar, awltar, asltar, azltar, akltar, aoltar, apltar, a:ltar, aktar, aotar, aptar, a:tar, alktar, alotar, alptar, al:tar, alrtar, al5tar, al6tar, alytar, algtar, alrar, al5ar, al6ar, alyar, algar, altrar, alt5ar, alt6ar, altyar, altgar, altqar, altwar, altsar, altzar, altqr, altwr, altsr, altzr, altaqr, altawr, altasr, altazr, altaer, alta4r, alta5r, altatr, altafr, altae, alta4, alta5, altat, altaf, altare, altar4, altar5, altart, altarf.

Other Usage Examples

For there is no defense for a man who, in the excess of his wealth, has kicked the great altar of Justice out of sight.

Leadership that exploits and sacrifices young people on the altar of its goals is nothing more than raw, demonic power. Genuine leadership is found in ceaseless efforts to foster young people, to pave the way forward for them.

In olden times sacrifices were made at the altar - a practice which is still continued.

It was a real surprise to me to come across the evidence that Christianity might once have been a danced religion. Certainly, some of the early church leaders thought this was great and spoke of what seems to have been circle dancing, perhaps around an altar.