Saint
/seɪnt/noun
A person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and regarded in Christian faith as being in heaven after death.
Did you know?The term 'saint' derives from the Latin 'sanctus', which means 'sacred'—a word used in ancient rituals to invoke divine protection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sank-
“to consecrate or make sacred.”
Latin
Latin
sanctus
“holy, consecrated; a title for a revered person.”
Old French
Old French
saint
“holy person, one set apart for God.”
Middle English
Middle English
seint
“a person recognized for holiness, often canonized by the Church.”
Modern English
English
saint
“a holy or virtuous individual, especially in a religious context.”