1540年代，“作为牺牲品献祭，杀死”，来自拉丁语 immolatus，动词过去分词形式 immolare，“献祭，作为供品献上”，因此在一般意义上是“杀死，屠杀”，原本和词源上是“用献祭的粗麦粉洒上”；来自同化形式的 in- “进入，在，之上”（来自原始印欧语根 *en “在”）+ mola (salsa) “（献祭的）粗麦粉”，与 molere “磨碎”相关（来自原始印欧语根 *mele- “压碎，磨碎”）。相关词：Immolated；immolating。
The victim (
victima is used of the larger,
hostia of the smaller animals) was led to the altar adorned with the sacred band of white wool (
infula) and ribands (
vittae); the horns were sometimes gilded. As in the Greek rule, the victim must come willingly. Then followed the
immolatio, also a counterpart of the Greek ritual, which consisted in dedicating the animal by strewing on its head the
mola salsa or prepared cake (perhaps also called
fertum) with wine and incense, and with the words
macte esto hoc ture et hoc vino. The beast was then slain .... [Cornish (ed.), "Concise Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities," 1898]
牺牲品（victima 用于较大的动物，hostia 用于较小的动物）被带到祭坛，上面装饰着神圣的白色羊毛带（infula）和缎带（vittae）；角有时会镀金。如同希腊的规则，牺牲品必须自愿前来。接着是 immolatio，也是希腊仪式的对应部分，包括在动物头上洒上 mola salsa 或准备好的饼（可能也称为 fertum），加上酒和香，并说 macte esto hoc ture et hoc vino。然后这只动物被杀死……[Cornish (ed.), "Concise Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities," 1898]
在现代用法中经常意味着自我焚烧（1779年有记载的短语），“自我牺牲”，与自杀（suicide）区分开来。
That acts of suicide were common among the general population of Rome, is not so certain as that self immolation was prescribed to every noble soul, in every instance where the country could be benefited by it. Examples of heroic devotedness occur in every page of Roman history. [Richard Chenevix, "An Essay Upon National Character," 1832]
自杀行为在罗马普通民众中是否普遍尚不确定，但自我焚烧被规定为每个高尚灵魂在任何能使国家受益的情况下必须进行的行为。罗马历史的每一页都充满了英雄奉献的例子。[Richard Chenevix, "An Essay Upon National Character," 1832]
尤其是在1800年后，指的是英属印度的习俗，特别是寡妇殉夫，这可能使其与火祭死亡联系在一起。
