ALTAR • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Altar

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/ˈɔltər/ Listen

noun

Altar 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. "Noah builded an altar unto the Lord."

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

See images of 'Altar'

Etymology of 'Altar'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Altar" Quotes from Famous Books

... after years never alluded to his priesthood, though his adversaries did; but so late as 27th March 1543 he describes himself in a notarial deed in his own handwriting as 'John Knox, minister of the sacred altar, of the Diocese of St Andrews, notary by Apostolical authority.' Apostolical means Papal, the notarial authority being transmitted through the St Andrews Archbishop; and Knox at this time does not shrink from dating his notarial act as in such a year 'of the pontificate ...

— John Knox • A. Taylor Innes

... and there sat his foster- daughter (as men deemed her) sitting amidst of it as yester-eve, and now arrayed in a garment of fine white wool, on the breast whereof were wrought in gold two beasts ramping up against a fire-altar whereon a flame flickered; and on the skirts and the hems were other devices, of wolves chasing deer, and men shooting with the bow; and that garment was an ancient treasure; but she had a broad girdle of gold and gems about her middle, and ...

— The House of the Wolfings - A Tale of the House of the Wolfings and All the Kindreds of the Mark Written in Prose and in Verse • William Morris

... the girl herself, young and beautiful, advances toward the altar on which fagots have been piled high. In her hand is the lighted torch which is to kindle ...

— How To Write Special Feature Articles • Willard Grosvenor Bleyer

... the chanting of the dragon priests always did. She took a few steps forward and stood behind a low-backed bench. Before her, the light streamed into the little chapel through one luminous window of colored glass above the altar. It lay all over the gray-tiled floor in roses and sunflowers of pink and gold. A deep purple stripe fell across the head of the black-robed priest. Dong-Yung was glad of that. It made his robe less hideous, and she could not understand ...

— The Best Short Stories of 1919 - and the Yearbook of the American Short Story • Various

... propitiate him. But his devil is ugly, and must be won over by offering and petition. Once a year, wherever collected in any number, he builds a flimsy sort of temple, decorates it with ornaments of tinsel, lays piles of fruit, meats and sugared delicacies on an altar, keeps up night and day a steady crash of gongs, and installs therein some great, uncouth wooden idols. When this period of worship is over the "josh-house" disappears, and the idols are unceremoniously stowed away among other ...

— Lippincott's Magazine Of Popular Literature And Science, No. 23, February, 1873, Vol. XI. • Various

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