Sanctity
/ˈsæŋk.tɪ.ti/noun
The state or quality of being holy or sacred.
Did you know?The word "sanctity" is tied to the Latin 'sanctus', meaning 'holy', which was often invoked in rituals to ward off malevolent spirits.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sak-
“to make sacred or to consecrate.”
Latin
Latin
sanctus
“holy, sacred, consecrated.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
sanctitas
“holiness, sacredness.”
Old French
Old French
sancteté
“sacredness, holiness.”
Middle English
Middle English
sanctite
“state of being holy.”
Modern English
Modern English
sanctity
“the quality of being holy or sacred.”