sacred

sa‧cred /ˈseɪkrəd, ˈseɪkrɪd/ adjective
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Past participle of sacre 'to make holy' (13-17 centuries), from Old French sacrer, from Latin sacrare, from sacer 'holy']
1. relating to a god or religion:
a sacred vow
the miraculous powers of sacred relics
Certain animals were considered sacred.
sacred to
The land is sacred to these tribesmen.
2. very important or greatly respected:
Human life is sacred.
Frontiers which have held for over forty years are no longer sacred.
sacred to
Few things were sacred to Henry, but local history was one of them.
He had no respect for everything I held sacred.
3. is nothing sacred? spoken used to express shock when something you think is valuable or important is being changed or harmed

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sacred

sac·red [ˈseɪkrɪd] [ˈseɪkrɪd] adjective
1. connected with God or a god; considered to be holy
• a sacred image/shrine/temple
• sacred music

• Cows are sacred to Hindus.

2. very important and treated with great respect
Syn: sacrosanct
• Human life must always be sacred.
• For journalists nothing is sacred (= they write about anything).
• Some companies offer five-year plans but there is nothing sacred about this length of time (= it can be changed).
Derived Word: sacredness
Word Origin:
[sacred sacredness] late Middle English: past participle of archaic sacre ‘consecrate’, from Old French sacrer, from Latin sacrare, from sacer, sacr- ‘holy’.
Example Bank:
• The place was sacred to the Apaches.
• the feeling that all life should be held sacred

• a sacred image/grove

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sacred / ˈseɪ.krɪd / adjective

C1 considered to be holy and deserving respect, especially because of a connection with a god:

sacred relics/temples

This area is sacred to the Apaches.

C1 connected with religion:

sacred music/writings

C2 considered too important to be changed:

His daily routine is absolutely sacred to him.

humorous The cricketers wore blue, not their usual white - is nothing sacred?

sacredness / -nəs / noun [ U ]

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

sacred

[se͟ɪkrɪd]
1) ADJ-GRADED Something that is sacred is believed to be holy and to have a special connection with God.
  The owl is sacred for many Californian Indian people.
  ...shrines and sacred places.
  Ant:
  profane, secular
  Derived words:
  sacredness N-UNCOUNT oft the N of n ...the sacredness of the site.
2) ADJ: ADJ n Something connected with religion or used in religious ceremonies is described as sacred.
  ...sacred art.
  ...sacred songs or music.
3) ADJ-GRADED You can describe something as sacred when it is regarded as too important to be changed or interfered with.
  My memories are sacred...
  He said the unity of the country was sacred.
  Syn:
  sacrosanct
  Derived words:
  sacredness N-UNCOUNT ...the sacredness of his given word.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sacred

Function: adjective

1
Synonyms: HOLY 1, blessed, consecrated, hallowed, sanctified, unprofane
Related Words: sacramental; angelic, godly, saintly; cherished
Contrasted Words: lay, secular, temporal; earthly; unhallowed
Antonyms: profane
2 dedicated to or hallowed by association with a deity ＜sacred songs＞
Synonyms: numinous, spiritual; compare HOLY 1
Related Words: hallowed, sanctified
3 protected (as by law, custom, or human respect) against abuse ＜a fund sacred to charity＞
Synonyms: inviolable, inviolate, sacrosanct
Related Words: defended, guarded, protected, shielded; immune, untouchable