And in those cases where those whose property or lives were to be sacrificed, one must question their fate had they been allowed to refuse the "honor".

Certainly, they would have suffered a loss of the approval of their peers, and perhaps of themselves. Of course, it must be acknowledged that the sense of approval received (or avoidance of disapproval) is a legitimate form of profit or gain. However, the coerciveness (threat) of such a circumstance calls into question the voluntary nature of the decision.

The word "sacrifice" should therefore be properly reserved for actions wherein voluntary choices and actions are denied or prevented.

It is under these circumstances that we invariably have a sacrifice.

For example, a man is compelled to enter a cage filled with savage, hungry lions. The king, or some other person wielding power forced him into the cage.

This man is a sacrifice and is being sacrificed. He is a sacrificial victim, precisely because he was forced into the cage, regardless of the way the lions respond to him.

He might emerge unscathed. The sacrifice, however, occurred at the moment that the will of another was imposed over him by force.