Question

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
SANCTIFY
a) Dedicate
b) Patronise
c) Venerate
d) Pollute

Answer 1

Hint: The word Sanctify means to set apart as sacred or declare holy. The word ‘Sanctify’ is an early 14th-century word.

Complete Answer:
Opposite words refer to those words which have different meanings. The origin of the word is from the Late Latin ‘sanctificare’ which originally replaced the Old French word ‘seintefien’ during the Middle English period. Let us look at an example here.
“A small shrine was built to sanctify the site.”
Now, let us go through the meanings of the given options to find the opposite of Sanctify.
a) Dedicate: It refers to devoting time or effort to a particular task or purpose. The use of the word was first recorded in 1375-1425 during the period of late Middle English from the Latin ‘dedicatus’. Let us look at the use of the word in a sentence. “Decide as a family to share cooking responsibilities and dedicate enough time for healthy meals.

b) Patronise: It refers to treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but that betrays a feeling of superiority. The use of the word patronise was first recorded in 1580-90. The original word is patron to which the suffix ‘-ise’ is added. Let us use the word to frame a sentence. “She was determined not to be put down or patronised.”
c) Venerate: It refers to regard with great respect or revere. The word was first used in 1615-25. It was taken from the Latin origin ‘veneratus’. Let us look at an example. “Philip of Beverley was venerated as a saint.”

d) Pollute: It refers to be contaminated with harmful or poisonous substances. The first recorded use of the word was in 1325-75 during the Middle English period. It originated from the Latin word ‘pollutus’. This is the correct option. The word pollute gives the opposite meaning of the word sanctify. Let us look at an example here. “The explosion polluted the town with dioxin.”

Note: Words that share opposite meanings are called antonyms. Every word has the opposite word. So, to find the opposite meaning of a word, you must look at the meanings of the given options. If you are stuck in any of the words, you can always use a dictionary.