n. 1. A sacrament and the central act of worship in many Christian churches, which was instituted at the Last Supper and in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed in remembrance of Jesus's death; Communion. 2. The consecrated elements of this rite; Communion. [Middle English eukarist, from Old French eucariste, from Late Latin eucharistia, from Greek eukharistiā, from eukharistos, grateful, thankful : eu-, eu- + kharizesthai, to show favor (from kharis, grace; see gher-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] Eu′cha·ristic, Eu′cha·risti·cal adj. |
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