Sanctities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state or quality of being sacred, revered, or entitled to veneration; the inherent value and dignity of something considered holy or moral
2. Aspects or principles that are treated with the utmost respect, often related to religious, ethical, or cultural significance; sacredness that demands preservation and protection
3. Elements or practices that embody pure and inviolable ideals, recognized in various traditions as worthy of profound regard and honor

Etymology: "Sanctities" is the plural of "sanctity," so it is simply the plural of the noun for the quality of being holy, which is often used when speaking of several separate holy things or principles. The singular comes from Latin "sānctitās," a noun built on "sanctus," meaning holy or consecrated, which itself belonged to the verb "sancīre," to make sacred or to ratify with a solemn sanction. That root also gave English "sanction," so a holy thing and an approving decree share a common ancestor. The word reached English through Middle English "sanctity," which was borrowed from Old French "sanctete," an earlier form of the modern French "sainteté." Latin "sānctitās" was the abstract formation that let Romans talk about holiness as a quality in its own right, and English kept that abstract sense intact, so the word has always named a state of being rather than a particular object.

Synonyms: holiness, sacredness, divinity, veneration, purity

Antonyms: profane, sacrilege, impurity, sinfulness, blasphemy