n. [ OE. sacrifise, sacrifice, F. sacrifice, fr. L. sacrificium; sacer sacred + facere to make. See Sacred, and Fact. ] 1. The offering of anything to God, or to a god; consecratory rite. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud,
To Dagon. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything consecrated and offered to God, or to a divinity; an immolated victim, or an offering of any kind, laid upon an altar, or otherwise presented in the way of religious thanksgiving, atonement, or conciliation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood
Of human sacrifice. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

My life, if thou preserv'st my life,
Thy sacrifice shall be. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else; devotion of some desirable object in behalf of a higher object, or to a claim deemed more pressing; hence, also, the thing so devoted or given up; as, the sacrifice of interest to pleasure, or of pleasure to interest. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A sale at a price less than the cost or the actual value. [ Tradesmen's Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Burnt sacrifice. See Burnt offering, under Burnt. --
Sacrifice hit (Baseball), in batting, a hit of such a kind that the batter loses his chance of tallying, but enables one or more who are on bases to get home or gain a base. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sacrificed p. pr. & vb. n. Sacrificing ] [ From Sacrifice, n.: cf. F. sacrifier, L. sacrificare; sacer sacred, holy + -ficare (only in comp.) to make. See -fy. ] 1. To make an offering of; to consecrate or present to a divinity by way of expiation or propitiation, or as a token acknowledgment or thanksgiving; to immolate on the altar of God, in order to atone for sin, to procure favor, or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a sheep. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, to destroy, surrender, or suffer to be lost, for the sake of obtaining something; to give up in favor of a higher or more imperative object or duty; to devote, with loss or suffering. [ 1913 Webster ]

Condemned to sacrifice his childish years
To babbling ignorance, and to empty fears. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Baronet had sacrificed a large sum . . . for the sake of . . . making this boy his heir. G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To destroy; to kill. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To sell at a price less than the cost or the actual value. [ Tradesmen's Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make offerings to God, or to a deity, of things consumed on the altar; to offer sacrifice. [ 1913 Webster ]

O teacher, some great mischief hath befallen
To that meek man, who well had sacrificed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who sacrifices. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of sacrificing one's self, or one's interest, for others; self-devotion. [ 1913 Webster ]