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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Sacrament \Sac"ra*ment\, n. [L. sacramentum an oath, a sacred
thing, a mystery, a sacrament, fr. sacrare to declare as
sacred, sacer sacred: cf. F. sacrement. See {Sacred}.]
1. The oath of allegiance taken by Roman soldiers; hence, a
sacred ceremony used to impress an obligation; a solemn
oath-taking; an oath. [Obs.]
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I'll take the sacrament on't. --Shak.
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2. The pledge or token of an oath or solemn covenant; a
sacred thing; a mystery. [Obs.]
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God sometimes sent a light of fire, and pillar of a
cloud . . . and the sacrament of a rainbow, to guide
his people through their portion of sorrows. --Jer.
Taylor.
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3. (Theol.) One of the solemn religious ordinances enjoined
by Christ, the head of the Christian church, to be
observed by his followers; hence, specifically, the
eucharist; the Lord's Supper.
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Syn: {Sacrament}, {Eucharist}.

Usage: Protestants apply the term sacrament to baptism and
the Lord's Supper, especially the latter. The R. Cath.
and Greek churches have five other sacraments, viz.,
confirmation, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and
extreme unction. As sacrament denotes an oath or vow,
the word has been applied by way of emphasis to the
Lord's Supper, where the most sacred vows are renewed
by the Christian in commemorating the death of his
Redeemer. Eucharist denotes the giving of thanks; and
this term also has been applied to the same ordinance,
as expressing the grateful remembrance of Christ's
sufferings and death. "Some receive the sacrament as a
means to procure great graces and blessings; others as
an eucharist and an office of thanksgiving for what
they have received." --Jer. Taylor.
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Sacrament \Sac"ra*ment\, v. t.
To bind by an oath. [Obs.] --Laud.
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