shrine

Meaning

Noun

1. A holy or sacred place dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, or similar figure of awe and respect, at which said figure is venerated or worshipped.
2. A case, box, or receptacle, especially one in which are deposited sacred relics, as the bones of a saint.
3. (figuratively) A place or object hallowed from its history or associations.

Verb

To enshrine; to place reverently, as if in a shrine.

Synonyms

temple

sanctuary

altar

place of worship

🛐

sacred place

sanctum

tabernacle

church

⛪

monument

enshrine

reliquary

joss house

house of worship

feretory

niche

memorial

imperial palace

stupa

token

treasure

vestry

holy place

Shinto

inner temple

Buddhist relic shrine

a place of worship

sacred sanctuary

Ark of the Covenant

chancel

chantry

chapel

chest

coffer

firm

gravestone

hall

headstone

🪦

mausoleum

memento

recess

sacristy

sepulchre

statue

Translations

santuario

Schrein

sanctuaire

santuario

santuário

delubrum

lieu saint

schrijn

santuari

Tempel

Heiligengrab

châsse

Heiligtum

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ʃɹaɪ̯n/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: shryne

Inherited from Old English: scrīn

Cognate with Old Norse: skrín

Cognate with Old High German: skrīni

Cognate with German: Schrein

In summary

From Middle English shryne, from Old English scrīn (“reliquary, ark of the covenant”), from Medieval Latin scrīnium (“reliquary”), “case or chest for books or papers” in Classical Latin. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to turn, bend”). Compare Old Norse skrín, Old High German skrīni (German Schrein).