sacrilege 
sacrilege (sak'ri-lej), H. [Formerly also sacri- 
leilije; < ME. sacriltijc, sticrilcf/yc, sacrilegie,<OF. 
sacrilege, F. sacrilege = Sp. Pg. It. sacrilegio, < L. 
sacrilegium, the robbing of a temple, stealing of 
sacred things, < sacrilegus, a sacrilegious person, 
temple-robber, < sacer, sacred, + legere, gather, 
pick, purloin: see sacred and legend.'] 1. The 
violation, desecration, or profanation of sacred 
things. Roman Catholics distinguish between sacri- 
legium, immediatum, committed against that which in and 
of itself is holy, and sacrilegium mediatum, committed 
against that which is sacred because of its associations or 
functions. 
Thou, that wlatist ydols, or raawmetis, doist tacrttegie' 
Wydif, Rom. ii. 22. 
The death of Ananias and Sapphira was a punishment 
to vow-breach and sacrilege. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 381. 
I durst not tear it [a letter] after it was yours ; there is 
some sacrilege in defacing anything consecrated to you. 
Donne, Letters, Ixxxv. 
Another great crime of near akin to the former, which 
was sometimes condemned and punished under the name 
of sacrilege, was robbing of graves, or defacing and spoil- 
ing the monuments of the dead. 
Bingham, Antiq. of the Christ. Church, p. 963. 
2. In a more specific sense : (f) The alienation 
to laymen or to common purposes of that which 
has been appropriated or consecrated to reli- 
gious persons or uses. (b) The felonious taking 
of any goods out of any church or chapel. In 
old English law these significations of sacrilege were legal 
terms, and the crimes represented by them were for some 
time punished by death ; in the latter sense the word is 
still used. =Syn. Desecration, etc. See profanation. 
sacrilegert (sak'ri-lej-er), . [< ME. sacrele- 
ger; < sacrilege + -er 2 .] A sacrilegious person ; 
one who is guilty of sacrilege. 
The king of England [Henry VIII.], whome he[thePope] 
had decreed an heretike, scismatike, a wedlocke breaker, 
a public murtherer, and a sacrileger. 
Holinshed, Chron., Hist. Scotland, an. 1535. 
sacrilegiet, A Middle English form of sac- 
rilege. 
sacrilegious (sak-ri-le'jus), a. [< sacrilege (L. 
sacrilegium) + -ous.~\ Guilty of or involving 
sacrilege ; profane ; impious : as, sacrilegious 
acts ; sacrilegious hands. 
Thou hast abus'd the strictness of this place, 
And off er'd sacrilegious foul disgrace 
To the sweet rest of these interred bones. 
Fletcher, Faithful Shepherdess, ii. 2. 
Still green with bays each ancient altar stands, 
Above the reach of sacrilegious hands. 
Pope, Essay on Criticism, 1. 182. 
= Syn. See profanation. 
sacrilegiously (sak-ri-le'jus-li), adv. In a sac- 
rilegious manner ; with sacrilege, 
sacrilegiousness (sak-ri-le'jus-nes), n. The 
character of being sacrilegious. 
sacrilegist (sak'ri-le-jist), . [< sacrilege + 
-int.'] One who is guilty of sacrilege. [Bare.] 
The hand of God is still upon the posterity of Antiochus 
Epiphanes the sacrilegist. Spelman, Hist. Sacrilege, 6. 
sacrilumbal (sa-kri-lum'bal), a. [< L. sacrum, 
sacrum, + lumbus, loin: see lumbar^.] Of or 
pertaining to the sacrilumbalis. 
sacrilumbalis (sa"kri-lum-ba'lis), n. ; pi. sacri- 
lumbalcs (-lez). [NL. : see sacriltimbal.] The 
great lumbosacral muscle of the back ; the erec- 
tor spimB. See erector. Coues and Shute, 1887. 
sacrilumbar (sa-kri-lum'bar), a. Same as sa- 
crolumbar. Coues and Shute, 1887. 
sacring (sa'kring), n. [Formerly also sacker- 
ing; < ME. sakeryng, tsacringe, sac-rynge; ver- 
bal n. of saere l ,v.] 1. Consecration. 
The archebisshop hadde ordeyned redy the crowne and 
septre, and all that longed to the sacringe. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S-), i. 106. 
At the sacring of the mass, I saw 
The holy elements alone. Tennyson, Holy Grail. 
2t. The Host. 
On Friday last, the Pai-son of Oxened " being at messe in 
one Parossh Chirche, evyn at levacion of the sakeryng, 
Jamys Gloys had been in the town, and come homeward by 
Wymondam's gate." Pazton Letters, I. 72. 
3. The sacrament ; holy communion. 
And on Friday after sakcryng, one come fro cherch warde, 
and schoffe doune all that was thereon. 
Potion Letters, I. 217. 
Sacring belL See belli. 
sacriplex (sa'kri-pleks), n. [NL., < L. sacrum, 
sacrum, + plexus, plexus: see plexus, 2.] The 
sacral plexus of nerves. Coues and Shute, 1887. 
sacriplexal (sa-kri-plek'sal), a. [< sacriplex + 
-al.] Entering into the composition of the sa- 
cral plexus, as a nerve; of or pertaining to the 
sacriplex. 
sacrist (sa'krist), ii. [= It. sacrista, < L. nacrix- 
ta, a sacristan, < L. sacer, sacred : see sacrc 1 . Cf. 
sacristan."] 1. A sacristan: sometimes specifi- 
cally restricted to an assistant sacristan. 
5295 
A sacrist or treasurer are not dignitaries in the church 
of common right, but only by custom. Ayliffe, Parcrgon. 
The cellarer, the sacrist, and others of the brethren, dis- 
appointed in the expectation they had formed of being 
entertained with mirthful performances, . . . turned them 
out of the monastery. Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 273. 
2. A person retained in a cathedral to copy 
out music for the choir and take care of the 
books. 
He would find Gervase, the sacrist, busy over the chroni- 
cles of the kings and the history of his own time. 
Slubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 145. 
sacristan (sak'ris-tau), H. [< ME. sacristane, 
< OF. sacristain, also segretain, secretain, sou- 
cretain, F. sacristain = Pr. sacristan, sagrestan 
= Sp. sacristan = Pg. sacristao = It. sagrestano, 
< ML. sacristanws ; usually sacrista, a sacristan, 
sexton : see sacrist. Cf . sexton, a contracted form 
of sacristan.] An officer of a church or monas- 
tery who has the charge of the sacristy and 
all its contents, and acts as custodian of the 
other vessels, vestments, and valuables of the 
church. The term sacristan has become corrupted into 
sexton, and these two names are sometimes used inter- 
changeably. The sacristan, as distinguished from the 
sexton, however, has a more responsible and elevated 
office. In the Roman Catholic Church the sacristan dur- 
ing mass attends in a surplice at the credence- table and 
assists by arranging the chalice, paten, etc. ; in some con- 
tinental cathedrals he is a dignitary, and in the English 
cathedrals usually a minor canon. 
The Sacristan shew'd us a world of rich plate, Jewells, 
and embroder'd copes, which are kept in presses. 
Evelyn, Diary, March 23, 1646. 
The Sacristan and old Father Nicholas had followed the 
Sub- Prior into the Abbot's apartment. 
Scott, Monastery, xxxiv. 
sacristanryt (sak'ris-tan-ri), 11. [ME., < sacris- 
tan + -ry.] Same as sacristy. Cath.Ang.,p.315. 
sacristy (sak'ris-ti), n. ; pi. sacristies (-tiz). [< 
ME. 'sacristie, < OF. (and F.) sacristie = Pr. sa- 
cristia, sagrestia = Cat. sagristia = Sp. sacristia 
= Pg. sacristia = It. sacristia, sacrestia, sagristia, 
sagrestia, < ML. sacristia, a vestry in a church, < 
sacrista, a sacristan : see sacrist. Cf. sextry, a 
contracted form of the same word.] An apart- 
ment in or a building connected with a church 
or monastery, in which the sacred utensils are 
kept and the vestments used by the officiating 
clergymen or priests are deposited; the vestry. 
sacrocaudal (sa-kro-ka'dal), a. [< L. sacrum, 
the sacrum, + cauda, tail: see caudal.] Sa- 
crococcygeal ; urosacral. 
sacrococcygeal (sa"kr6-kok-sij'e-al), a. [< sa- 
crococcygcus + -al.] 1. Of or pertaining to the 
sacrum and the coccyx; sacrocaudal. 2. In 
oritith., pertaining to that part of the sacrarium 
which is coccygeal ; urosacral Sacrococcygeal 
fibrocartilage, plexus, etc. See the nouns. Sacro- 
coccygeal ligaments, the ligaments uniting the sacrum 
and the coccyx : an anterior, a posterior, and a lateral are 
distinguished. 
sacrococcygean (sa"kr6-kok-sij'e-an), a. Same 
as sacrococcygeal. 
sacrococcygeus (sa/'kro-kok-sij'e-us), . ; pi. sa- 
crococcygei (-i). [NL., < L. sacrum, the sacrum, 
+ NL. coccyx: see coccygeus.] A sacrococcy- 
geal muscle ; a muscle connected with the sa- 
crum and the coccyx. 
sacrocostal (sa-kro-kos'tal), .. and . [< L. 
sacrum, the sacrum, + costa, a rib: see costal.] 
I. a. Connected with the sacrum and having 
the character of a rib. 
II. . 1. A sacrocostal element of a verte- 
bra, or so-called sacral rib. 2. In ornith., spe- 
cifically, a sacrocostal rib ; any rib which ar- 
ticulates with a bird's sacrarium, or complex 
sacrum. Coues, 1890. 
sacrocotyloid (sa-kro-kot'i-loid), a. [< L. sa- 
crum, the sacrum, + Gr. KOTV?.?/, a vessel: see 
cotyloid.] Relating to the sacrum and to the 
cotyloid cavity of the hip-bone ; acetabular. 
sacrocotyloidean (sa-kro-kot-i-loi'de-an), a. [< 
sacrocotyloid + -e-an.] Sam as sacrocotyloid. 
Sacrocotyloidean diameter. See pelvic diameters, 
under pel etc. 
sacro-iliac (sa-kro-il'i-ak), a. [< L. sacrum, the 
sacrum, + ilium, the ilium.] Pertaining to the 
sacrum and the ilium: as, the sacro-iliac artic- 
ulation. Sacro-lllac ligaments, the ligaments unit- 
ing the sacrum and the ilium, which in man are an- 
terior and posterior. The former is a short flat band of 
fibers which pass from the upper and anterior surface 
of the sacrum to the adjacent surface of the ilium. 
The part of the latter forming a distinct fasciculus, 
and running from the third transverse tubercle on the 
posterior surface of the sacrum to the posterior superior 
spine of the ilium, is sometimes called the oblique sacro- 
iliac ligament. Sacro-iliac synchondrosis, the sacro- 
iliac articulation of man and some other animals, form- 
ing a synarthrosis between the sacrum and the ilium. 
It is frequently replaced by bony union, and less often 
forms a movable joint; but the name does not apply to 
either of these substitutions. 
sacrum 
sacro-ischiac, sacro-ischiadic, sacro-ischiat- 
ic (sa-kro-is'ki-ak, -is-ki-ad'ik, -is-ki-at'ik), a. 
Pertaining to the sacrum and to the ischium ; 
sacrosciatic. 
sacrolumbal (sa-kro-lum'bal), a. [< L. sacrum, 
the sacrum, + lumbus, loin. Cf. sacrolumbar.] 
Pertaining to the sacrolumbalis ; sacrilumbar : 
as, the sacrolumbal muscle. 
sacrolumbalis (sa"kr6-lum-ba'lis), n.; pi. sacro- 
lumbales(-lvz). [NL.: see sacrolumbal.] The 
smaller and outer section of the erector spinse, 
in man inserted by six tendons into the angles 
of the six lower ribs. Also called iliocostalvi, saaro- 
lumbaris, and lumbocostalis. In the dorsal or thoracic re- 
gion of man this muscle acquires certain accessory fasciculi 
known in the text-books of human anatomy as mtiscuhts 
accessorius ad sacrolvmbalem. 
sacrolumbar (sa-kro-lum'bar), a. [< L. sacrum, 
the sacrum, + lumbus, loin: see lumbar^.] 1. 
Pertaining to sacral and lumbar vertebrae ; lum- 
bosacral: as, the sacrolumbar muscle; nacro- 
lumbar ligaments. 2. Combining or represent- 
ing the characters of sacral and lumbar parts: 
as, sacrolumbar vertebrse; sacrolumbar ribs. 
Also sacrilumbar. 
sacrolumbaris (sa/kro-lum-ba'ris), .; pi. sa- 
crolumbares (-rez). [NL.: see sacrolumbar.] 
Same as sacrolumbalis. 
sacromedian(sa-kr6-me'di-an),n. KL.MOfltM, 
the sacrum, + medianus, median.] Running 
along the median line of the sacrum: said 
of an artery. See sacra 2 Sacromedlan artery. 
Same as middle sacral artery. See sacral. 
sacropubic (sa-kro-pu'bik), a. [< L. sacrum, the 
sacrum, + pubes, the pubes: see pubic.] Per- 
taining to the sacrum and to the pubes ; pubo- 
sacral : as, the sacropubic diameter of the pelvis. 
sacrorectal (sa-kro-rek'tal), a. [< L. sacrum, 
the sacrum, + rectum, the rectum.] Pertaining 
to the sacrum and the rectum Sacrorectal 
hernia, a hernia passing down the ischiorectal fossa and 
appearing in the perineum, protruding between the pros- 
tate and rectum in the male, and between the vagina and 
rectum in the female. 
sacrosanct (sak'ro-sangkt), a. [= F. sacrosaitit 
= Sp. Pg. sacrosanto = It. sacrosanto, sagro- 
santo, < L. sacrosanctus, inviolable, sacred, < 
sacer, sacred, + sanctus, pp. of sancire, fix un- 
alterably, make sacred: see saint 1 .] Preemi- 
nently or superlatively sacred or inviolable. 
The Roman church . . . makes itself so sacrosanct and 
infallible. 
Dr. H. More, Antidote against Idolatry, iii. {Latham.) 
From sacrosanct and most trustworthy mouths. 
Kingsley, Hypatia, xxxi. 
sacrosciatic (sa"kro-sl-at'ik), a. [< L. sacrum, 
the sacrum, + ML. sciaticas, sciatic : see sciatic.] 
Of or pertaining to the sacrum and the ischium : 
as, the sacrosciatic notch or ligaments Sacro- 
sciatic foramina, the foramina, great and lesser, into 
which the great and lesser sacrosciatic notches respective- 
ly are formed by the greater and lesser sciatic ligaments. 
The greater transmits the pyriformis muscle, the gluteal 
vessels, superior gluteal nerve, sciatic vessels, greater and 
lesser sciatic nerves, the internal pudic vessels and nerve, 
and muscular branches from the sacral plexus. The lesser 
sacrosciatic foramen transmits the tendon of the obtura- 
tor internus, the nerve which supplies that muscle, and 
the internal pudic vessels and nerve. Sacrosciatic lig- 
aments, two stout ligaments connecting the sacrum witn 
the ischium. The greater or posterior passes from the pos- 
terior inferior iliac spine and the sides of the sacrum and 
coccyx to the ischial tuberosity ; the lesser or anterior 
passes from the side of the sacrum and coccyx to the 
ischial spine. 
sacrospinal (sa-kro-spi'nal), a. [< L. sacrum, 
the sacrum, + spina, the spine: see spinal.] 
Sacrovertebral ; specifically, pertaining to the 
sacrospinalis. 
sacrospinalis (sa"kr6-spi-na'lis), w.; pi. sacro- 
spinales (-lez). [NL.: see sacrospinal.] The 
erector spinse muscle ; the sacrolumbalis and 
longissimus dorsi taken together. 
Sacrovertebral (sa-kro-ver'te-bral), a. [< L. 
sacrum, the sacrum, + vertebra, a vertebra.] 
Of or formed by the sacrum and other verte- 
brae : as, the Sacrovertebral angle or promontory 
(the anterior sacral angle or prominence, at the 
articulation of the sacrum with the last lumbar 
vertebra). See phrases under sacral and sa- 
crum Sacrovertebral ligament, a ligament passing 
from the transverse process of the last lumbar vertebra to 
the lateral part of the base of the sacrum. 
sacrum (sa'krum), n. ; pi. sacra or sacrums 
(-kra, -krumz). [NL. (sc. os), the sacred bone ; 
neut. of sacer, sacred: see sacrei.] A com- 
pound bone resulting from the ankylosis of 
two or more vertebrae between the lumbar 
and the coccygeal region of the spine, mostly 
those which unite with the ilia; the os sacrum. 
In man the sacrum normally consists of five sacral ver- 
tehro. 1 thus united, and is the largest, stoutest, and most 
solid part of the vertebral column, forming a curved py- 
ramidal mass with the base uppermost, the keystone of the 
