Key terms & definitions

The corrosion of iron in the presence of both water and oxygen, forming rust.

The theft of livestock, especially cattle or horses.

An Arabic term used for a vision or dream.

The distance travelled by a substance, measured from the origin to the centre of its spot, divided by the distance travelled by the solvent from the origin. It has no unit.

Plans uncovered in 1683 involving an intended ambush of Charles II and James, Duke of York, alongside discussions of an uprising against the government.

The Sturmabteilung, the Nazi Party’s brown-shirted paramilitary organisation, which protected Nazi meetings, disrupted opponents’ meetings and used street violence and intimidation.

The company of spiritually devoted people who gather to remember God and support one another's spiritual growth.

The Christian holy day of rest and worship, observed on Sunday in Elizabethan England.

The Jewish weekly day of rest and worship, observed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.

A neighbouring Italian people whose conflict with Rome ended, in the foundation tradition, with the union of the two communities.

Deliberate damage to property or equipment to disrupt an opponent’s activities.

Patience and perseverance: remaining faithful to Allah and continuing to do what is right through hardship.

The fifth and final stage of Sikh spiritual development: truth, involving complete union with God; a spiritual state rather than a physical place.

The capture and plundering of a settlement by an attacking force, often involving destruction.

A religious ceremony understood to convey God’s grace, such as baptism or Communion.

An effective sign of God's grace. Catholics understand marriage as a sacrament involving a lifelong commitment before God.

The particular help God gives through a sacrament so that its recipient can fulfil the purpose of that sacrament.

The belief that the material world can reveal and communicate God’s presence and love.

A sacrament through which a person enters or is strengthened in the Christian life: Baptism, Confirmation or the Eucharist.

Something holy or set apart for God.

Art that expresses religious belief and is intended to support worship or devotion.

A religious celebration that recalls sacred events or teachings and expresses beliefs through worship and shared activities.

A representation of Jesus’s heart that expresses his total, self-sacrificing love for humanity.

A physical object set apart for religious use, which can express belief and support worship or devotion.

A place regarded as holy because of its association with a deity, religious event or spiritual significance.

A designated area containing temples and other buildings used for religious ceremonies.

A sound-unit regarded as sacred and used within a mantra; its religious significance need not depend on an ordinary word-for-word meaning.

The living transmission of the Christian faith received from the apostles, through the Church’s teaching, life and worship.

A container or dish set apart for use in worship, particularly to hold the Eucharist.

An offering to a deity. Animal sacrifice involved the ritual killing of an animal.