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 Archangel Michael is the patron saint of police officers, so I wanted to ask Jurado if her pendant was a sly dig at her antagonists.

From Los Angeles Times

Set aside in the 9th century as a day to honor the Catholic saints, it succeeded an even older Gaelic celebration of transition between seasons and states of being.

From Los Angeles Times

The Samaritans passed a small shrine to St. Jude — the patron saint of lost causes — on the Mexico side.

From Los Angeles Times

International politics is not best overseen by saints or sophists.

From Los Angeles Times

There were times on the first day of the first Test against Pakistan that England must have hoped for help from the patron saint of taking wickets.

From BBC