altar

noun
al*tar \ ˈȯl-tər \
before 12th century{ds||1||}
  • a usually raised structure or place on which sacrifices are offered or incense is burned in worship —often used figuratively to describe a thing given great or undue precedence or value especially at the cost of something else
  • a tablelike construction used in the Christian church in celebrating the Eucharist
  • a table or place which serves as a center of worship or ritual—often used with the to refer to the act of getting married

altar boy

noun
altar boy \
1772{ds||1||}
  • a boy who assists the celebrant in a liturgical service
  • a morally pure and virtuous person —typically used in negative constructions to describe a man whose behavior is not entirely admirable or blameless

altar call

noun
altar call \
1896
  • an appeal by an evangelist to worshippers to come forward to signify their decision to commit their lives to Christ

altar girl

noun
altar girl \
1905
  • a girl acting as a lay assistant in church services

altar of repose

noun phrase
altar of repose \
1849
  • repository

altar rail

noun
altar rail \
1705
  • a railing in front of an altar separating the chancel from the body of the church

altar server

noun
altar server \
1920
  • a lay person (typically a child or adolescent) who assists the celebrant in a liturgical service

altar stone

noun
altar stone \
14th century
  • a stone slab with a compartment containing the relics of martyrs that forms an essential part of a Roman Catholic altar

high altar

noun
high altar \
before 12th century
  • the principal altar in a church

lead to the altar

idiom
lead to the altar \
  • to ultimately lead to marriage
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