saint

[ seynt ]

noun

1. any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization.
2. a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence.
3. a founder, sponsor, or patron, as of a movement or organization.
4. (in certain religious groups) a designation applied by the members to themselves.

verb (used with object)

1. to enroll formally among the saints recognized by the Church.
2. to give the name of saint to; reckon as a saint.

saint

/ seɪnt; sənt /

noun

1. 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
2. a person of exceptional holiness or goodness
3. plural Bible the collective body of those who are righteous in God's sight

verb

1. tr to canonize; recognize formally as a saint

saint

1. In Christianity , a holy person, living or dead; a person who has been saved ( see salvation ) (see also salvation ). Saint is the French word for “holy.” Many churches reserve the title of saint for persons who have died faithful to their Christian commitment. The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church require certain procedures before people can be officially named saints; this procedure is called canonization .

Derived Forms

• ˈsaintdom, noun
• ˈsaintlike, adjective
• ˈsaintless, adjective

Other Words From

• saintless adjective
• outsaint verb (used with object)
• super·saint noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of saint¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of saint¹

C12: from Old French, from Latin sanctus holy, from sancīre to hallow

Example Sentences

The students delve into meditative practices and learn gymnastics, wrestling, martial arts and stick-fighting, to develop the mind of a saint and the body of a warrior.

From Ozy

The capsule currently includes an eclectic mix of photographs, charts and even a drawing appearing to depict infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci as a saint.

From Science News

Farmers, it turns out, in addition to being hard-working saints who do largely thankless work for increasingly less money, are also business people.

From Popular-Science

A timed kibble dispenser can also help your pet learn that you aren’t the patron saint of food.

From Popular-Science

The gadfly of ancient Athens, patron saint of Western philosophy, and its first martyr has much to teach about modern life and business.

From Fortune

The exhibit also includes examples of designers borrowing from fine art, as Yves Saint Laurent did with his Mondrian dress.

From The Daily Beast

It was in Saint-Rémy where Van Gogh sends his brother word of how all his sacrifice may soon be for nothing in this life.

From The Daily Beast

Race relations in Saint Louis could hinge on the outcome of this announcement.

From The Daily Beast

Tensions are rising in Saint Louis, Mo., as race relations heat up.

From The Daily Beast

Saint Louis City police also spent $325,000 upgrading helmets, sticks and other civil disobedience equipment.

From The Daily Beast

May looked along at the dimpled grace, And then at the saint-like, fair old face, “How funny!”

From Project Gutenberg

One of her humours was to unite the son of her minister, with a niece of the widowed Queen of Saint Germain's.

From Project Gutenberg

He marched to meet it with the throbbing pulses of a soldier rushing to victory or a saint to martyrdom.

From Project Gutenberg

Happening to walk down the Rue Saint Honoré, he had come upon tragedy.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon our return from this river Saint John, our route turned towards the country of the Armouchiquoys.

From Project Gutenberg