sanctified; sanctifying

transitive verb

1
: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : consecrate
2
: to free from sin : purify
3
a
: to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to
b
: to give moral or social sanction to
4
: to make productive of holiness or piety
observe the day of the sabbath, to sanctify it Deuteronomy 5:12 (Douay Version)

Examples of sanctify in a Sentence

The priest sanctified their marriage. The constitution sanctified the rights of the people.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Physicians need to adopt the habits of happiness as so eloquently delineated by Arthur Brooks: faith, family, friends, and purposeful, sanctifying work. Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024 With an original seating capacity of 800 on 20 rows of pews divided into three sections, the buff brick church, trimmed in limestone, was sanctified almost 70 years ago in 1955. Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 12 May 2024 The priest at the church, which had been sanctified by the recent arrival of some saintly relics from Rome, tried talking to the demon living in the girl’s body. Matthew Gabriele, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024 If Saturday’s game likely won’t be as low-scoring affair as the one Rice sanctified 100 years ago, both offenses may be in for a long day; having given up just 10.3 points per game this season, Army boasts the game’s second-stingiest D, while the Irish are No. 3 (11.4). Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 22 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sanctify 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English seintefien, sanctifien, from Anglo-French seintefier, sanctifier, from Late Latin sanctificare, from Latin sanctus sacred — more at saint

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sanctify was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sanctify

Cite this Entry

“Sanctify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanctify. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

sanctified; sanctifying
1
: to set apart as sacred
2
: to make free from sin
sanctification
ˌsaŋ(k)-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sanctify

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