saint
Americannoun
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any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization.
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a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence.
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a founder, sponsor, or patron, as of a movement or organization.
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(in certain religious groups) a designation applied by the members to themselves.
verb (used with object)
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to enroll formally among the saints recognized by the Church.
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to give the name of saint to; reckon as a saint.
noun
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a person who after death is formally recognized by a Christian Church, esp the Roman Catholic Church, as having attained, through holy deeds or behaviour, a specially exalted place in heaven and the right to veneration
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a person of exceptional holiness or goodness
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(plural) Bible the collective body of those who are righteous in God's sight
verb
Other Word Forms
- outsaint verb (used with object)
- saintdom noun
- saintless adjective
- saintlike adjective
- supersaint noun
Etymology
Origin of saint
before 1000; Middle English (noun and v.) < Old French (noun) < Latin sānctus sacred, adj. use of past participle of sancīre to consecrate, equivalent to sanc- (akin to sacer sacred ) + -tus past participle suffix; replacing Old English sanct < Latin, as above
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But then one of their tormentors became a patron saint.
From Barron's
A steady stream of pilgrims passes through the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi to see the saint’s remains, placed on public display to mark the 800th anniversary of his death.
From Barron's
The remains of Italy's patron saint, St Francis of Assisi, have gone on public display to mark 800 years since his death.
From BBC
Many families with children, couples and elderly people could be seen under a large white marquee, waiting their turn to see the 13th century skeleton of Italy's patron saint.
From Barron's
His remains, which will be on display until March 22, were transferred to the basilica built in the saint's honour in 1230.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
