late 13c., "offering of something (especially a life) to a deity as an act of propitiation or homage;" mid-14c., "that which is offered in sacrifice," from Old French sacrifise "sacrifice, offering" (12c.), from Latin sacrificium, from sacrificus "performing priestly functions or sacrifices," from sacra "sacred rites" (properly neuter plural of sacer "sacred;" see sacred) + root of facere "to do, perform" (see factitious).
Latin sacrificium is glossed in Old English by ansegdniss. Sense of "act of giving up one thing for another; something given up for the sake of another" is first recorded 1590s. Baseball sense first attested 1880.
sacrifice (v.)
c. 1300, "to offer something (to a deity, as a sacrifice)," from sacrifice (n.). Meaning "surrender, give up, suffer to be lost" is from 1706. Related: Sacrificed; sacrificing. Agent noun forms include sacrificer, sacrificator (both 16c., the latter from Latin); and sacrificulist (17c.).
实用例句
1. He was willing to make any sacrifice for peace.
他愿意为和平作出任何牺牲。
来自柯林斯例句
2. No one is worth a great deal of sacrifice.
没有谁值得付出重大的牺牲。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The great magicians of old always invoked their gods with sacrifice.
旧时一些有名的巫师经常以祭品祈求他们所供奉神灵的助佑。
来自柯林斯例句
4. I thanked my parents for all their self-sacrifice on my behalf.