Link Centre Dictionary

altar

al·tar

UK/ˈɒl.tə/ US/ˈɔːl.tə/ fairly common informal

noun

1.

the table in Christian churches where communion is given

Synonyms
2.

a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made

Origin

Inherited from Middle English auter, inherited from Old English altar and borrowed from Old French auter, both derived from Latin altāre, probably related to adolere (“burn”); thus "burning place", influenced by altus (“high”). Displaced native Middle English wēved.

Phrases

  • altar bell
  • altar boy
  • altar bread
  • altar call
  • altar card
  • altar carpet
  • altar cloth
  • altar girl

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.