Dictionary

sanctuary

noun sanc·tu·ary \ˈsaŋ(k)-chə-ˌwer-ē\

: a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter

: the protection that is provided by a safe place

: the room inside a church, synagogue, etc., where religious services are held

plural sanc·tu·ar·ies

Full Definition of SANCTUARY

1
:  a consecrated place: as
a :  the ancient Hebrew temple at Jerusalem or its holy of holies
b (1) :  the most sacred part of a religious building (as the part of a Christian church in which the altar is placed)
(2) :  the room in which general worship services are held (3) :  a place (as a church or a temple) for worship
2
a (1) :  a place of refuge and protection (2) :  a refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal
b :  the immunity from law attached to a sanctuary
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Origin of SANCTUARY

Middle English seintuarie, sanctuarie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin sanctuarium, from Latin sanctus
First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SANCTUARY

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

Rhymes with SANCTUARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry
SANCTUARY Defined for Kids

sanctuary

noun sanc·tu·ary \ˈsaŋk-chə-ˌwer-ē\
plural sanc·tu·ar·ies

Definition of SANCTUARY for Kids

1
:  a holy or sacred place
2
:  a building or room for religious worship
3
:  a place that provides safety or protection <a wildlife sanctuary>
4
:  the protection from danger or a difficult situation that is provided by a safe place

Word Root of SANCTUARY

The Latin word sacer, meaning holy, and the related word sānctus, also meaning holy, give us the roots sacr and sanct. Words from the Latin sacer or sānctus have something to do with holiness. A sanctuary is a holy place. Anything sacred is holy. To sacrifice is to dedicate as a holy offering to a god.

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2 ENTRIES FOUND:
Next Word in the Dictionary: sanctuary ringPrevious Word in the Dictionary: sanctuarizeAll Words Near: sanctuary
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