Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Altar

Al′tar

,
Noun.
[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.
Gen. viii. 20.
2.
In the Christian church, a construction of stone, wood, or other material for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; the communion table.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Altar

AL'TAR

,
Noun.
[L. altare, probably from the same root as altus, high.
1.
A mount; a table or elevated place, on which sacrifices where anciently offered to some deity. Altars were originally made of turf, afterwards of stone, wood or horn; some were round, others square, others triangular. They differed also in height, but all faced the east. The principal altars of the Jews were, the altar of incense, of burnt-offerings, and of shewbread; all of shittim wood, and covered with gold or brass.
2.
In modern churches, the communion table; and, figuratively, a church; a place of worship.
3.
In scripture, Christ is called the altar of Christians, he being the atoning sacrifice for sin.
We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat, who serve tabernacles. Heb. 13.

Definition 2024


Altar

Altar

See also: altar, áltár, and ältar

German

Noun

Altar m (genitive Altars or Altares, plural Altäre, diminutive Altärchen n)

  1. (religion, including Christianity) altar (table or similar structure used for religious rites)

Declension

Derived terms


Portuguese

Proper noun

Altar m

  1. (astronomy) Ara (a constellation of the southern sky)

Romanian

Altar

Proper noun

Altar

  1. Ara (constellation)


This Romanian entry was created from the translations listed at Ara. It may be less reliable than other entries, and may be missing parts of speech or additional senses. Please also see Altar in the Romanian Wiktionary. This notice will be removed when the entry is checked. (more information) February 2010

altar

altar

See also: Altar, áltár, and ältar

English

Noun

altar (plural altars)

  1. A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
  2. (informal) A raised area around an altar in a church; the sanctuary.

Derived terms

Translations


Catalan

Etymology

From Latin altāre.

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -a(ɾ)

Noun

altar m (plural altars)

  1. altar

Cimbrian

Noun

altar m (plural [please provide])

  1. altar

References

  • “altar” in Umberto Martello Martalar, Alfonso Bellotto, Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Setti Communi vicentini, 1st edition, 1974.

Faroese

Etymology

From Old Norse altari, from Old Saxon altari, from Latin altare (altar), cognates with Danish alter (altar).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈal̥.taɹ/

Noun

altar n (genitive singular altars, plural altar)

  1. altar

Declension

n3 Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative altar altarið altar altarini
Accusative altar altarið altar altarini
Dative altari altarinum altarum altarunum
Genitive altars altarsins altara altaranna

Galician

Noun

altar m (plural altares)

  1. altar

Synonyms


Indonesian

Etymology

From Latin altāre, through Dutch altaar.

Noun

altar

  1. altar

Irish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈal̪ˠt̪ˠəɾˠ]

Verb

altar

  1. present indicative autonomous of alt
  2. imperative autonomous of alt
  3. present subjunctive autonomous of alt

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical Eclipsis with h-prothesis with t-prothesis
altar n-altar haltar t-altar
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Latin

Etymology

Found mainly in post-Classical Latin. In Classical Latin, used mostly in plural form altaria. Ultimately from adolere and influenced by altus. See also other forms altāre and altārium.

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈal.tar/, [ˈaɫ.tar]

Noun

altar n (genitive altāris); third declension

  1. altar (for burnt offerings)

Inflection

Third declension neuter “pure” i-stem.

Case Singular Plural
nominative altar altāria
genitive altāris altārium
dative altārī altāribus
accusative altar altāria
ablative altārī altāribus
vocative altar altāria

Descendants

References


Manx

Noun

altar m (plural altaryn)

  1. (religion) altar

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

Noun

altar n (definite singular altaret, indefinite plural altar, definite plural altara)

  1. an altar

Etymology 2

Noun

altar m

  1. indefinite plural of alt

Old High German

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *aldrą, whence also Old English ealdor, Old Norse aldr.

Noun

altar n

  1. age

Descendants


Old Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin altāre (altar for burnt offerings).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /al.ˈtaɾ/

Noun

altar m (plural altares)

  1. altar (flat structure used for religious rites)

Descendants


Portuguese

Etymology

From Old Portuguese altar, from Latin altāre (altar for burnt offerings).

Pronunciation

  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /aɫ.ˈtaɾ/
  • (Paulista) IPA(key): /aw.ˈtaɾ/, /aw.ˈtaɹ/
  • (South Brazil) IPA(key): /aw.ˈtaɾ/, /aw.ˈtaɻ/

Noun

altar m (plural altares)

  1. altar (flat structure used for religious rites)

Romanian

Alternative forms

  • altariu (dated, rare)

Etymology

From Latin altārium or altār, with the plural deriving from altāria. Compare oltar, a rare and dated variant which derives from the same source via a Slavic intermediary.

Noun

altar n (plural altare)

  1. altar
  2. communion table
  3. chancel
  4. shrine, sanctuary

Synonyms

  • (altar): pristol
  • (sanctuary): sanctuar

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin altāre.

Noun

altar m (plural altares)

  1. altar
  2. Stone that separates the firebox from the hearth in reverberatory furnaces