Forms: α. 5 eukaryste, 6 eucarist, -chariste, euchrist, 6– eucharist; β. 6 eucharistie, 8 eucharisty. [a. OF. eucariste (cf. mod.F. eucharistie), ad. late L. eucharistia, a. Gr. εὐχαριστία thanksgiving, hence the Lord’s Supper, f. εὐχάριστος grateful, f. εὐ- (see EU-) + stem of χαρίζεσθαι to offer willingly. the β forms may either be ad. L. or a. mod.F.]
I. 1. Eccl. The sacrament of the Lord’s Sapper; the Communion.
a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867), 37. Þe brede of eukaryste, þat es þe grace in þe sacrament of þe autere.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 174. Eucharist … is the priestes seruice and busynes.
a. 1535. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1338/2. This blessed sacrament is also called Eucharistia.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol. (1604), Pref. 5 (J.). Himselfe did better like of common bread to bee vsed in the Eucharist.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., I. li. 287. Our Sacrament of Peace is called … the Eucharist.
1712. Sir G. Wheler, Liturgy after Model of Ancients (MS.), 195. The importance of the Holy Eucharisty is so great that they did … give a general Scheme, how it shou’d be celebrated.
1786. W. Thomson, Watson’s Philip III. (1839), 335. Sigismond … allowed them [the Hussites] the cup in the sacrament of the eucharist.
1845. Sarah Austin, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Ref., I. 255. It was not denied that the efficacy of the Eucharist in both kinds was more complete.
2. The consecrated elements, esp. the bread. Phrases, To give, receive, etc., the Eucharist.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), II. 401. Thay spulyeit the eucarist out of the cais of silver.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 82. A certeine priest, sent to Serapion (beeing at the point of death) a litle portion of the Eucharistie in the night season.
1644. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 98. The Emperor, Henry VII., who was here poisoned with the holy Eucharist.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 162. At no time a Priest is worthy to celebrate Mass, who hath not received the Eucharist.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), II. 352. Giving the eucharist to children was … finally abolished.
1861. Hook, Lives Abps., I. vi. 323. The corporal presence of our Lord in the Eucharist.
1875. W. Smith, Dict. Chr. Antiq., I. 625/2. Clement of Alexandria (Strom. i. § 5, p. 318) speaks of ministers distributing the eucharist (τὴν εὐχαριστίαν διανείμαντες) i. e. the elements, to the communicants.
† 3. The box or closed vessel containing the consecrated bread; the pyx. Obs.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 255. The siluer euchrist be ane cord … that hang … Tha pluckit doun.
1560. St. Giles Charters (1859), p. xlviii. Ane rownd eucharist, ane chalece, ane plate. Ibid., p. xlvii. The pece of gold that held the breid within the eucharist.
II. 4. Thanksgiving.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Eucharist, a thanksgiuing.
1644. Jer. Taylor, Apol. Liturgy, § 38. For which ability they should do well to pay their eucharist to the Holy Ghost.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc., 225. The Second calls for our Praise and Eucharist.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), VII. 12. He … is … led through a vale of tears to the region of eucharist and hallelujahs.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 80. Adding their Amen to the voice of Eucharist.
