Essay on "Etymology and Definition"

Essay 5 pages (1766 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Sacrifice is a word used by many in a variety of contexts, yet this word has an array of meanings which still have the same but yet different definitions. It is difficult to describe exactly what this word means without going back to the root of it. Depending in what tense the word is used and in what form, it could mean one thing or another. Originally, the use of the meaning of this word can be traced as far back as hunter gatherer societies, and in a religious biblical sense, to the beginning of times when humanity was first created (Sacrifice, 1991). It has its roots in Latin and comes from the word sacrificium (sacrifice), from sacrificio (to make or offer a sacrifice), and from sacer (sacred or holy) + facio (do or make) (Britannica 1994-2008). In the third-person singular simple present it is sacrifices, in the present participle it is sacrificing, and in the simple past and past participle it is sacrificed. The use of this word varies on language, grammar, and purpose. Sacrifice can mean to offer something as a gift to a God, to trade a value of higher worth for one of lesser worth in order to gain something else valued more, or to give away something valuable to get at least a possibility to gain something else of value such as self-respect, trust, love, freedom, prosperity, in order to avoid an even greater loss (Britannica 1994-2008). It even has direct meanings when it is used in reference to games such as chess (to intentionally give up a piece in order to improve one's position on the board) and in baseball (to advance a runner on base by batting the ball so it can be caught or fielded placing the batter out, but with insufficient time to put the runner out). No matter in what way this word is used, there are five overbearing definitions to this word: giving up something, having a personal cost, doing something for someone else, offering to the Gods, and in terms of the sacrificial lamb. This paper will identify the definitions and meanings behind the term sacrifice.

To sacrifice something is to give up something of value. It could be of value for the person giving it, or value for the person receiving it. It is giving up something that is important for somebody else considered to be of more value or importance. There are various examples of this type of sacrifice as it is the reason why other types of sacrifices take place. Giving up something could be a physical aspect or it can be a metaphysical one, something that doesn't necessarily have to be touchable, but could hold value. For example, in a baseball game, a sacrifice bunt is a play where the player who is batting gives up his chance at trying to hit the ball high and make it to base, so that the other players on base could advance. The hitter is giving up an opportunity at playing in the actual game so that the team as a whole can advance. He is committing the sacrifice (giving up something that is valuable to him which is hitting the ball and getting the chance at running to first base) for something that he considers even more valuable (for the other players that are on base to be able to get ahead and better their chances at scoring a run so that the game could be won). This sense of giving up something is in terms a sacrifice in itself and entails the individual to value certain things over others.

The term sacrifice not only means that something is given up, but that the thing that is given up, comes as a personal cost, and not only will the sacrifice be an item, but the act of it being at a personal cost is in itself the definition of the word. The act of sacrificing something comes at a personal cost, and it is this exact outcome that makes a sacrifice. The word sacrifice in itself entails giving something up that doesn't necessarily always have to be good, but it could be at a personal cost to the self. A sacrifice is not a measure of what is taken up, but instead of what is given up. It is this act that makes all the difference in defining whether the word sacrifice holds true to its meaning. One could give something up as a way of redeeming oneself, or as a way to help others redeem themselves. There is no such thing as giving up something without any value. Something that is given up is always going to be at a personal cost to that individual. A personal cost does not necessarily have to be in a negative aspect though, it could be at a small personal cost in order to receive an even bigger personal gain. A perfect example of this could be in a monetary sense when an individual donates to a church. The sacrifice is in giving a couple of dollars to the place of worship in order to fulfill a sense of moral obligation which in terms brings a much larger reward to the self.

To perform a personal sacrifice is to give up something that is of personal value and might be at a personal cost in order to benefit someone else. It is the opportunity to give something that will benefit someone else directly or for the common good of everyone. Even this form of sacrifice is in itself religious for a sacrifice was seen as a fulfillment of a vow, whether by an individual or the community, to obtain the help or avert the displeasure of supernatural forces, or even in gratitude for favors received (Sacrifice, 2009). Doing something for someone else is in itself the meaning of the word sacrifice. It is putting one's benefit to the side and acting on what will benefit someone else. This is actually the definition that most relates to what a sacrifice is. Putting someone else's needs ahead of one's own is what happens all the time when a sacrifice is being made. In terms of everyday life, one can sacrifice watching television to spend more time with family, or one can sacrifice spending money on a shopping spree so that more vacation money could be saved. These are all things that are done in order for someone else to be pleased.

The most commonly used definition of the word sacrifice is in terms of religious affiliation as in sacrificing something for the Gods or a God. Although the concept of sacrifice (which in Latin means 'to make holy') might be difficult for the Western secular mind to understand, the idea of sacrifice is still both a powerful psychological symbol and a key to understanding central Christian and Judaic doctrines. From the earliest times, sacrifices (in the form of offerings left on altars, by graves and beside sacred trees, streams, etc.) were considered an appropriate response to the numinous and a means of venerating the dead (Leach, 1964). Depending on which religion the word sacrifice is being referenced in, the meaning of what a sacrifice would be is also different. In Hinduism, a sacrifice to a God is returned by being smeared with black ashes on a forehead to symbolize the gratitude that the Gods have for receiving the sacrifice (Sacrifice, 2009). The Nature of sacrifice is that of something being sacrificed for a God or to a God. These consisted of sacrifices performed on a regular basis, according to established patterns of daily, monthly, or seasonal acts, or on special occasions, such as a birth, puberty, marriage, or death. The purpose of this act is either to establish or sustain a proper relationship with the God or Gods. Sacrifices simply express homage or veneration, or they give thanks for good fortune. The history of the word sacrifice in this sense can be traced back to hunter gatherer societies where although not much was given in a sense of physical sacrificial objects, but as a means of surviving while trying to please the Gods in order to receive something back from them (Davies, 1988).

The ultimate definition of what the term sacrifice means is in terms to the sacrificial lamb. Although this phrase does have an actual historical meaning, it is a metaphorical reference to a person or animal sacrificed, killed, or discounted in some way, for the common good (Leach, 1964). Again, sacrifice is defined as an act of doing something for others without regard of the self. In all of what a sacrifice is, being able to give up something because there is a better more fulfilling reward in assisting someone else. The sacrificial lamb comes from the Abrahamic religion where a lamb is a highly valued possession, but is offered to God as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of Sin (Sacrifice, 2005). "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a… READ MORE

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