sanctuary

Where does the word "sanctuary" come from? It comes from Latin sanctuarium, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Sanctuary’s story begins in Latin: sanctuarium meant “a holy place.” A holy place, from sanctus (holy, sacred). It reached English by 1300s as sanctuary. Settled as the English word for a sacred place offering safety. Today, sanctuary means a sacred place, or a place providing safety and protection.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sanctuarium "a holy place", a holy place, from sanctus (holy, sacred).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s sanctuary "a sacred place, or a place offering safety and protection", settled as the English word for a sacred place offering safety.