altar
A raised structure or table used as a center for religious rituals, such as making sacrifices or offerings to a deity. In modern secular contexts, it is most frequently associated with the location where wedding vows are exchanged.
Examples
3 of 5The couple stood before the altar to exchange their wedding vows.
The couple stood before the altar to exchange their wedding vows.
The high altar was adorned with gold leaf and intricate carvings from the 17th century.
The high altar was adorned with gold leaf and intricate carvings from the 17th century.
He's not quite ready to head to the altar and settle down.
He's not quite ready to head to the altar and settle down.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Remember that an altAr is a structure (like a stAr in the sky), while to altEr is to make it diffErent.
Quick Quiz
The priest placed the sacred bread upon the ___ before beginning the prayer.
Correct!
The correct answer is: altar
Examples
The couple stood before the altar to exchange their wedding vows.
everydayThe couple stood before the altar to exchange their wedding vows.
The high altar was adorned with gold leaf and intricate carvings from the 17th century.
formalThe high altar was adorned with gold leaf and intricate carvings from the 17th century.
He's not quite ready to head to the altar and settle down.
informalHe's not quite ready to head to the altar and settle down.
The ancient stone altar shows evidence of burnt offerings dating back to the Bronze Age.
academicThe ancient stone altar shows evidence of burnt offerings dating back to the Bronze Age.
The long-term growth of the company was sacrificed on the altar of short-term quarterly profits.
businessThe long-term growth of the company was sacrificed on the altar of short-term quarterly profits.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
lead someone to the altar
to marry someone
sacrifice on the altar of
to give up something valuable for the sake of something else
left at the altar
to be abandoned by a partner immediately before a wedding ceremony
Often Confused With
Alter is a verb meaning to change or modify something, whereas altar is a noun referring to a religious table.
Usage Notes
While primarily a religious term, it is frequently used metaphorically in literature and business to describe giving something up for a 'higher' or more important cause.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is misspelling the word as 'alter', which is a completely different part of speech (verb).
Memory Tip
Remember that an altAr is a structure (like a stAr in the sky), while to altEr is to make it diffErent.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'altare', meaning a high place or a structure for sacrifice, likely related to 'altus' (high).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Western culture, the altar is the focal point of a church wedding, symbolizing the sacred nature of the marriage contract.
Quick Quiz
The priest placed the sacred bread upon the ___ before beginning the prayer.
Correct!
The correct answer is: altar
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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