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saint
/seɪnt/
a holy person or someone of exceptional goodness
She was canonized as a saint for her lifelong dedication to helping the poor.
She was officially recognized as a saint because of her extraordinary kindness and service.
religious
a person officially recognized by the Christian Church as being holy or virtuous
The Pope declared him a saint after he performed several miracles.
The Pope officially recognized him as a saint because of his miraculous deeds.
In Christianity, saints are often venerated and prayed to for intercession.
informal
a person of exceptional goodness or virtue, often used informally
My grandmother is a saint for putting up with us all these years.
My grandmother is incredibly patient and kind, making her seem like a saint.
In everyday language, 'saint' can be used humorously or affectionately to describe someone who is very patient or kind.
Collocations
canonize a saintto officially declare someone a saintpatron sainta saint who is considered the protector of a particular place, profession, or groupsaintly patienceextremely patient behavior
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Religious vs. Informal Use
Be aware of the context when using 'saint'. In religious contexts, it refers to an officially recognized holy person, while in everyday language, it can be used humorously to describe someone who is very kind or patient.
Gold Rule
Capitalization
In English, 'saint' is capitalized when referring to a specific saint by name (e.g., 'Saint Francis'), but not when used generally (e.g., 'a saint').
Word Origin
From Old French 'saint', from Latin 'sanctus', meaning 'holy' or 'sacred'.
Usage Notes
The term 'saint' is primarily used in religious contexts but can also be used informally to describe someone who is exceptionally kind or patient.
Word Breakdown
sanct
holy
root-us
a state or condition
suffixEnglish Dictionary