Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sacrifice \Sac"ri*fice\ (?; 277), n. [OE. sacrifise, sacrifice,
   F. sacrifice, fr. L. sacrificium; sacer sacred + facere to
   make. See {Sacred}, and {Fact}.]
   1. The offering of anything to God, or to a god; consecratory
      rite.

            Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud, To
            Dagon.                                --Milton.

   2. Anything consecrated and offered to God, or to a divinity;
      an immolated victim, or an offering of any kind, laid upon
      an altar, or otherwise presented in the way of religious
      thanksgiving, atonement, or conciliation.

            Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human
            sacrifice.                            --Milton.

            My life, if thou preserv'st my life, Thy sacrifice
            shall be.                             --Addison.

   3. Destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of
      something else; devotion of some desirable object in
      behalf of a higher object, or to a claim deemed more
      pressing; hence, also, the thing so devoted or given up;
      as, the sacrifice of interest to pleasure, or of pleasure
      to interest.

   4. A sale at a price less than the cost or the actual value.
      [Tradesmen's Cant]

   {Burnt sacrifice}. See {Burnt offering}, under {Burnt}.

   {Sacrifice hit} (Baseball), in batting, a hit of such a kind
      that the batter loses his chance of tallying, but enables
      one or more who are on bases to get home or gain a base.