saint

Where does the word "saint" come from? It comes from Latin sancire, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1100s).

Saint’s story begins in Latin: sancire meant “to make sacred.” The root of 'sanctify', 'sanction' and 'sanctuary'. Within Latin, it grew into sanctus by ancient. Holy, sacred, from sancire. From there it passed into Old French as seint by medieval. Carried into French for a person recognized for holiness. It reached English by 1100s as saint. Settled as the English word for a person formally recognized as holy. Today, saint means a person formally recognized as holy or virtuous, especially in Christianity.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sancire "to make sacred", the root of 'sanctify', 'sanction' and 'sanctuary'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient sanctus "holy, sacred", holy, sacred, from sancire.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval seint "a person recognized for holiness", carried into French for a person recognized for holiness.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1100s saint "a person formally recognized as holy", settled as the English word for a person formally recognized as holy.