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sanctity - 5 dictionary results

sanc⋅ti⋅ty

  [sangk-ti-tee]
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–noun, plural -ties.
1. holiness, saintliness, or godliness.
2. sacred or hallowed character: the inviolable sanctity of the temple.
3. a sacred thing.
Origin:
1350–1400; < L sānctitās holiness, equiv. to sānct- (see Sanctus ) + -itās -ity; r. ME sauntite < AF < L, as above
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sanc·ti·ty   (sāngk'tĭ-tē)   
n.   pl. sanc·ti·ties
  1. Holiness of life or disposition; saintliness.
  2. The quality or condition of being considered sacred; inviolability.
  3. Something considered sacred.

[Middle English saunctite, from Old French sainctite, from Latin sānctitās, from sānctus, sacred; see sanctify.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Sanctity

Sanc"ti*ty\, n.; pl. Sanctities. [L. sanctitas, from sanctus holy. See Saint.]

1. The state or quality of being sacred or holy; holiness; saintliness; moral purity; godliness.

To sanctity she made no pretense, and, indeed, narrowly escaped the imputation of irreligion. --Macaulay.

2. Sacredness; solemnity; inviolability; religious binding force; as, the sanctity of an oath.

3. A saint or holy being. [R.]

About him all the sanctities of heaven. --Milton.

Syn: Holiness; godliness; piety; devotion; goodness; purity; religiousness; sacredness; solemnity. See the Note under Religion.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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sanctity 
c.1394, from O.Fr. sanctité, from L. sanctitatem (nom. sanctitas) "holiness, sacredness," from sanctus "holy" (see saint).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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sanctity

see odor of sanctity.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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