Saint

Pronunciation

• IPA: /seɪnt/
• Rhymes: -eɪnt
• UK IPA: /sÉ™n(t)/, /sɨn(t)/

Origin

From Middle English saint, from Old French saint (Modern French saint), from Latin sanctus ("holy, consecrated, in Late Latin as a noun a saint"), past participle of sancire ("to render sacred, make holy"), akin to sacer ("holy, sacred").

Noun

1. A person to whom a church or another religious group has officially attributed the title of "saint"; a holy or godly person; one eminent for piety and virtue.Kateri Tekakwitha was proclaimed a saint.
2. (figuratively, by extension) A person with positive qualities; one who does good.Dorothy Day was a living saint.Thanks for looking after the house while I'm away. You're a saint!
3. One who is sanctified or made holy; a person who is separated unto God’s service.to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours. (1Cor. 1:2)
4. One of the blessed in heaven.
• MiltonThen shall thy saints, unmixed, and from the impure
  Far separate, circling thy holy mount,
  Unfeigned hallelujahs to thee sing.

Synonyms

• (holy person) hallow, sheik

Related terms

• sainthood
• saintly
• saintess

Full definition of saint

Verb

1. (nonstandard) To canonize, to formally recognize someone as a saint.Many wish to see Pope John Paul II sainted immediately.

Anagrams

• antis
• satin, sat in
• stain
• tians
• tisan