Sanctus

[ sangk-tuhs ]

noun

1. (italics) Also called Tersanctus. the hymn beginning “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts,” with which the Eucharistic preface culminates.
2. a musical setting for this hymn.

Sanctus

/ ˈsæŋktəs /

noun

1. liturgy the hymn that occurs immediately after the preface in the celebration of the Eucharist
2. a musical setting of this, usually incorporated into the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Mass

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sanctus¹

< Latin sānctus holy, hallowed (past participle of sancīre to hallow), the first word of the hymn

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sanctus¹

C14: from the first word of the hymn, Sanctus sanctus sanctus Holy, holy, holy, from Latin sancīre to consecrate

Example Sentences

I often think I can still hear their fervidly devotional hymn of the sanctus—Heilig!

From Project Gutenberg

Sed signifer Sanctus Michael representet eas (animas) in lucem sanctam.

From Project Gutenberg

Cicero mentions that Ennius applied the epithet sanctus to poets.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a crown and the word sanctus under it, so that they all were confident these were the right relics.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus in sanctify, which is composed of two radicals, sanctus and fio, we observe two accents; the strongest on the first syllable.

From Project Gutenberg