hallow

/ˈhæloʊ/

/ˈhæləʊ/

Other forms: hallowed; hallows; hallowing

To hallow is to bless, consecrate, or render holy by means of religious rites, especially significant religious places or the relics of saints.

As a noun, hallow means "saint." The word for our popular holiday Halloween is a shortened form of "All Hallows' Eve," or "All Saints' Eve," which precedes All Saints' Day. In the verb form, the synonyms bless and sanctify are more commonly used these days, but hallow still appears in such phrases as "hallowed ground" (ground that's been blessed) and the Christian "hallowed be Thy name" (a phrase from "The Lord's Prayer," where hallowed means "revered").

Definitions of hallow

1. verb

   render holy by means of religious rites
   synonyms: bless, consecrate, sanctify

   types:

   reconsecrate

   consecrate anew, as after a desecration

   type of:

   declare

   state emphatically and authoritatively