Library / English Dictionary

SHRINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("shrine" is a kind of...):

house of God; house of prayer; house of worship; place of worship (any building where congregations gather for prayer)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shrine"):

oracle (a shrine where an oracular god is consulted)

stupa; tope (a dome-shaped shrine erected by Buddhists)

Instance hyponyms:

Caaba; Kaaba ((Islam) a black stone building in Mecca that is shaped like a cube and that is the most sacred Muslim pilgrim shrine; believed to have been given by Gabriel to Abraham; Muslims turn in its direction when praying)

Derivation:

shrine (enclose in a shrine)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Enclose in a shrine

Example:

the saint's bones were enshrined in the cathedral

Synonyms:

enshrine; shrine

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "shrine" is one way to...):

close in; enclose; inclose; shut in (surround completely)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

shrine (a place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The world may not like to see these ideas dissevered, for it has been accustomed to blend them; finding it convenient to make external show pass for sterling worth—to let white-washed walls vouch for clean shrines.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I am in the keeping of James of Compostella, to whose shrine I shall make pilgrimage, and in whose honor I vow that I will eat a carp each year upon his feast-day.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Here, cherished like a household saint in its shrine, sat Beth, tranquil and busy as ever, for nothing could change the sweet, unselfish nature, and even while preparing to leave life, she tried to make it happier for those who should remain behind.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Now," he continued, again addressing me, "I have received the pilgrim—a disguised deity, as I verily believe. Already it has done me good: my heart was a sort of charnel; it will now be a shrine."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Brother Luke hath given me some skill in damask work, and in the enamelling of shrines, tabernacles, diptychs and triptychs.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“A shrine!” cried the knight.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One thousand Aves and as many Credos, said standing with arms outstretched before the shrine of the Virgin, may help thee to remember that the Creator hath given us two ears and but one mouth, as a token that there is twice the work for the one as for the other.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I shall therefore sell these things to the first worthy passers-by, and from them I shall have money enough to take me to the shrine of Our Lady at Rocamadour, where I hope to lay these old bones.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)