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View synonyms for sanctum

sanctum

[ sangk-tuhm ]

noun

, plural sanc·tums, sanc·ta [sangk, -t, uh].
  1. a sacred or holy place.
  2. an inviolably private place or retreat.


sanctum

/ ˈsæŋktəm /

noun

  1. a sacred or holy place
  2. a room or place of total privacy or inviolability


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Word History and Origins

Origin of sanctum1

1570–80; noun use of neuter of Latin sānctus; Sanctus

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Word History and Origins

Origin of sanctum1

C16: from Latin, from sanctus holy

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Example Sentences

Hundreds of protein messengers need to enter into the nuclear sanctum to transcribe DNA instructions into mRNA and shuttle it back to the cell’s protein-making factories.

Since then, many pop producers have swiped aspects of his technological innovations, while Blake in turn entered pop music’s inner sanctum, working with Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar and many others.

From Time

The ripple effects of this unconstitutional law extend beyond Texas courthouses and into the sanctums of our most sacred relationships.

From Time

Others worry responsible elections officials will be intimidated out of their jobs and replaced by partisan crusaders, who may believe they have to kick in the doors of the sanctum to protect it.

As his gained popularity, he joked that he found himself one of the few men invited into the inner sanctum of women’s book clubs.

Yet as recent work suggests, invaders have found all sorts of ways into the inner sanctum.

In other words, Eric, supposedly a financial master of the universe, is cut off from reality in his inner sanctum on wheels.

But if Hoover could bug the innermost sanctum of the Supreme Court, nothing was sacred for the FBI.

There is, to Obama, a milquetoastian core, one that needs perpetual strengthening by an inner-sanctum bruiser.

Inside this inner sanctum was yet another black door, another secret chamber: the VIP of VIPs.

Her chamber was her retreat and sanctum, and she had lavished much taste and time in fitting it up.

At the appointed time she passed through the iron doors of the Sanctum Regnum.

"I have yet other motives in presenting myself to-day, in this, your sanctum," stated Mr. Van Nicht.

He made his way back to the doctor's sanctum, and found that gentleman awaiting him impatiently.

To enter the little Cafe in the cul-de-sac Le Febvre was, at the period of our tale, to enter the sanctum of a man of genius.

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sanctuary lampsanctum sanctorum