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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sacrament, n. Also: sacre-, sacri-, sacry-. [ME and e.m.E. sacrament (Ancr. R.), sacrement (Ayenbite), ME pl. sacramens (a1200), sacremens (14th c.), F. sacrement (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. sacrāmentum.]

1. One of the sacraments of the Christian Church. Also transf.In the Roman Catholic Church, seven were recognised (see Irland Asl. MS quot. below), in the Reformed Church, two, viz. baptism and the Lord's Supper.(a) a1400 Leg. S. x 345.
Of all the sacramentis sewyne Mariage was fyrste that God … mad c1420 Wynt. v 4540.
Off ane othir … [He] tuk that haly sacrament [sc. of baptism] c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 245. 1456 Hay II 66/31, 32.
The haly sacrament of the altare, with the otheris sacramentis of the haly kirk Ib. I 190/24, 204/30. 1461 Liber Plusc. 388.
Scho decest with all the sacramentis a1500 Rauf C. 956. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 8/12.
The quhilkis sevyne sacramentis ar bapteme confirmacoun mariage ordour mes and sacrament of the altar pennance & vnctioun Ib. 11/1.
The first part of the haly sacrament of pennans is contricioun Id. Mir. II 71/7. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 16/42. 1525 St. A. Formulare I 271. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 416. a1538 Abell 38b.
At baptism wes nocht neidfull to do awa syn bot to honorit be in sacrament of adoptioun c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 131. 1546 Reg. Privy C. in Robertson Concilia Sc. I cxlvi.
Quhill diuers of thame ar becumin oppin disputantis aganis the sacramentis and specialie aganis the blissit sacrament of the altar 1551 Hamilton Cat. 122. 1560 Bk. Disc. 190.
Of the nomber, effect, and use of the sacraments 1567 G. Ball. 202.
Thay sell ȝow als the sacramentis seuin 1567 Acts III 20/2.
We vtterlie dampne the vanitie of thay that affirme sacramentis to be nathing ellis bot nakit and bair signis 1588 King Cat. 76.
That … the verray flesche and verray blood of Jesus Christ is giuen to vs in this sacrament 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 25/19. 1603 Elgin Rec. II 115. 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
His rites ceremonies and false doctrine added to the ministration of the true sacraments without the word of God 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 177.
And depryveing the inhabitants of the sacraments, speciallie of the Lord's Super, … for sindrie yeirs(b) c1420 Wynt. i 91.
Off matrymony the sacryment Than rase in that state innocent a1538 Abell 56b.
In picture & ymage hes in a buyk thai ma considdir the sacrimentis & operatioun of our faith(c) a1586 Lindsay MS 40b.
The pursevant … thus is he tuys howen … bot not in … lychtleing of the haly sacrementtransf. c1500 Rowll Cursing 94 (M).
Than this salbe thair sacrament Fra God our lady and all his hallowis The dewill thair saulis thair cragis the gallois

2. specif. The Eucharist, Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.Also with defining terms, as of the altar, of the Lordis Supper. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 122.
To clenge thare entent, & clene resawe the sacrament Ib. xlviii 101.
Quhar tretyt is the sacrament Of Godis body at altare burd c1420 Wynt. vii 334. 1456 Hay I 202/31. 1490 Treas. Acc. I 132.
On Payce da … quhen the king tuk his sacrement in the chapell in Lythqow ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 395.
How He institud the haly sacrament a1500 Rois Garlandis 89.
The quhilk at his last supper maid the sacrament in forme off breid and wyne c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 18/86.
Anis in the ȝer to tak the sacrament 1533 Gau 80/4.
This … kirk … is spiritualie dailie fed with our lord Jesus Christis word and his halie sacrament 1551 Acts II 482/1.
Thame that … cummis to the halie buird of God and ressaifis thair sacrament lyand vnder the said censuris of cursing 1559 Statut. Sc. Ch. 188.
Consecrate preistis, lauchfull ministers of the sacrament of the altare 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 44.
Accused for bla[s]phemows saying aganis the sacrament of the body and blude of Christe a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 122/24.
That the blessed body … is nocht nor ȝit can noch be realy in the sacrament 1562-3 Winȝet I 89/11.
That mony wald … resaue the haly sacrament of the altar 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 226. 1594 Misc. Maitl. C. I 67.
The minister of Campsie may ministrat the sacrament of the Supper of the Lord Jesus to his parochineris on twa Sondayes allanerlie 1596 Dalr. I 106/22.
Priestes quha may to the lai peple … minister the blist sacrament 1650 Auchterhouse Ann. 108. 1675 Elgin Rec. II 310.
Thomas Ogilvie, merchant, hes givine in ane basone and ane laver for the vse of baptisme and sacrament 1680 Moray Synod 173.
Ministers not giving the sacrament at least once every year shall be suspended 1695 S. Ronaldshay 65.
A quart of clairet wyne with 3 thrippenay whyt loavis for to be ellimentis to the sacrament 1695 Ayr Presb. 26 Sept.
That Mr. John Hunter & Mr. Samuel Stewart doe not celebrate the sacrament of the Lords Supper

b. The consecrated elements, esp. the host. 1456 Hay I 202/27.
Gif a preste be assailit … berand Goddis body on him … quhethir he aw to lay fra him the sacrament c1460 Vert. Mess (STS) 54.
That a persone … at the sicht of the sacrament sais his pater-nostere 1495 Edinb. Hammermen 9.
On the viij day quhen the sacrament ȝeid throucht the toune c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 157.
Ane pharatrum for the sacrament 1527 Thanes of Cawdor 150.
The sacrament and haly evangilist tuechit 1532 Haddington B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 248. 1542 Ib. in Murray Early B. Organ. I 249. 15.. Reg. Soltre 214.
The sacrister … sall vese the sacrament abowne the hye altar euerye xx dayis 1552 Treas. Acc. X 111.
For striking of ane preist and taking of the sacrament out of his handis 1559 Statut. Sc. Ch. 190.
To sit styll … quhill thay be ordourlie seruit of the saide blyssit sacrament, etc.

c. Used in oaths. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 125.
He may againnis al the court … suer apone the sacrament [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 455.
Schir, be my saull, and the blissit sacrament, My hart warmys c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 168/41.
Ane fleschour swoir be the sacrament And be Chrystis blud … Nevir fatter flesch saw man 1540 Lynd. Sat. 652. a1578 Pitsc. I 41/9.
The chanceleir suore be his great aith and hailie sacrament [etc.]

d. Attrib. in senses a or b above, with almerye, bell (cf. Sacring-bell n.), chandlar, day, lycht.Also Sacrament-hous(e. 1535 Linlithgow B. Ct. 10 Nov.
Anent the sacrement lycht bayth of wile and wax 1536 Edinb. Hammermen 147.
Gevin for peirsing of the sacrament bell the tovng in it & persing of the samyn 1553–4 Edinb. Old Acc. II 28.
For wattering and deichting of the kirk on the sacrament day 1556–7 Ib. 77.
Ane key to the sacrament almerye 1560 Aberd. B. Rec. I 329.
The sacrament chandlar

3. Rendering L. sacramentum: An oath or solemn affirmation. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 577 (C).
And he [sc. King Priam] and the Gregeois trewly The pece for to hold sekyrly, Eftre the fourme of sacrament [L. formam sacramenti] Swore 14.. Acts I 377/2.
That in sic case … the pruff may [nocht] be lede withoutyn sacrament Ib. 378/2.
Bot gif it be … defalt of seknes in bed the quhilk aw to be freschly pruffyt be the sacrament of twa leil men [L. per sacramenta … duorum virorum fidelium] 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 128.
The sacrament of twasum suorne Ib.
Gif forsuth to the sacrament of xii suorne men it be pruffyt that [etc.]