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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame ==Etymology== [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_...'
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==Etymology==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] alter, from [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] altar, from [[Latin]] altare; probably akin to Latin adolēre to burn up
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Century before 12th century]
==Definitions==
*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 <sacrificed his [[family]] life on the '''altar''' of [[career]] advancement>
*2 : a table on which the eucharistic elements are consecrated or which serves as a [[center]] of [[worship]] or [[ritual]]
==Description==
An '''altar''' is any [[structure]] upon which offerings such as [[sacrifices]] and votive offerings are made for [[religious]] [[purposes]], or some other [[sacred place]] where ceremonies take place. Altars are usually found at [[shrine]]s, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of [[worship]]. Today they are used particularly in the [[religions]] of Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Taoism, as well as Christianity, LaVeyan Satanism, Thelema, Neopaganism, and in Ceremonial [[magic]]. Many historical faiths also made use of them, including [[Greek]] and Norse religion.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altar]
[[Category: Religion]]
[[Category: Anthropology]]
==Etymology==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] alter, from [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] altar, from [[Latin]] altare; probably akin to Latin adolēre to burn up
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Century before 12th century]
==Definitions==
*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 <sacrificed his [[family]] life on the '''altar''' of [[career]] advancement>
*2 : a table on which the eucharistic elements are consecrated or which serves as a [[center]] of [[worship]] or [[ritual]]
==Description==
An '''altar''' is any [[structure]] upon which offerings such as [[sacrifices]] and votive offerings are made for [[religious]] [[purposes]], or some other [[sacred place]] where ceremonies take place. Altars are usually found at [[shrine]]s, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of [[worship]]. Today they are used particularly in the [[religions]] of Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Taoism, as well as Christianity, LaVeyan Satanism, Thelema, Neopaganism, and in Ceremonial [[magic]]. Many historical faiths also made use of them, including [[Greek]] and Norse religion.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altar]
[[Category: Religion]]
[[Category: Anthropology]]