Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AL'TAR, n. [L. altare, probably from the same root as altus, high; Celt. alt, a high place.]

1. A mount; a table or elevated place, on which sacrifices were anciently offered to some deity. Altars were originally made of turf, afterwards of stone, wood, or horn; some were round, others square, others triangular. They differed also in highth, but all faced the east. The principal altars of the Jews were the altar of incense, of burnt-offerings, and of show-bread; all of shittim wood, and covered with gold or brass. – Encyc.
2. In modern churches, the communion table; and, figuratively, a church; a place of worship.
3. In Scripture, Christ is called the altar of Christians, he being the atoning sacrifice for sin. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat, who serve tabernacles. – Heb. xiii.