Etymology

Participle

1. sacred, made inviolable, having been established as sacred.
2. venerable, august, divine, blessed, holy, saintly

Noun

1. A saint; person who lives a holy and virtuous life.

   "Dorothy Day erat sancta viva." (Dorothy Day was a living saint.)

2. A person who is officially proclaimed as having lived a life of heroic virtue.

   "Kateri Tekawitha sancta proclamata est." (Kateri Tekawitha is proclaimed a saint.)

3. A title given to (2), usually capitalized, prefixed to the person's name.

   "Sanctus Stephanus Protomartyr"

Related terms

• sanciō
• sāncta
• sanctificātiō
• sanctificō