The word "sacred" is spelled with the letter "c" instead of "k" because it comes from the Latin word "sacer," which was pronounced with a soft "c" sound. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is represented as /ˈseɪkrɪd/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "a" is pronounced like the "a" in "say," and the "e" is pronounced like the "e" in "bet." The "r" sound is pronounced with a slight roll of the tongue.
The term "sacred" refers to something that is considered holy, religious, or deeply revered by a particular individual, community, or religious group. It describes objects, places, rituals, texts, or beliefs that hold great spiritual significance and are regarded as set apart from the mundane or profane.
The concept of the sacred is deeply ingrained in various religious or spiritual traditions around the world. In these contexts, it often represents the divine, transcendent, or supernatural and reflects the belief in a higher power or ultimate reality. This can include deities, spirits, or a universal force that is worshipped, respected, and honored.
Sacred can also refer to the inherent quality of being inviolable, inviolate, or unassailable. It suggests that the thing it describes is regarded as so important, pure, or untouchable that it requires special reverence and protection. This can apply to moral principles, rights, or values that are considered sacrosanct in a society, community, or individual's belief system.
Moreover, the sacred often accompanies a sense of the extraordinary or transcendent, eliciting feelings of awe, wonder, or reverence in those who encounter or engage with it. This emotional response reflects the recognition of the sacred's inherent power, mystery, or connection to the divine. As such, it can serve as a source of spiritual inspiration, guidance, and transformation.
To sum up, the term "sacred" encompasses the realm of the religious, spiritual, holy, and revered. It denotes that which is deeply meaningful, inviolable, extraordinary, and deserving of respect, honor, and protection.
Pert. to God, or to His worship; pert. to religion or religious uses; not profane; inviolable.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sacred" originated from the Latin word "sacer", which means "holy" or "consecrated". In its original form, it also referred to something that was deemed inviolable or not to be tampered with. The roots of the Latin word can be traced back to the Indo-European root "*sak-", which meant "to sanctify" or "to make holy". Throughout its evolution, "sacred" has maintained its core meaning of being connected to divinity, sanctity, or ultimate significance.