Sanctuary

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsæŋktjʊəɹi/

Definitions

1. A place of safety, refuge, or protection, especially one offering shelter to those fleeing danger or persecution
2. A location designated for refuge and protection, where individuals or animals can find safety from danger or threats
3. A refuge or safe haven where individuals or animals can seek protection from harm or danger is often referred to as a place of sanctity

Etymology: The sense of "sanctuary" as a refuge from harm grew out of a religious idea: a holy place where pursuers could not lay hands on a fugitive. In medieval Latin, "sanctuarium" meant not only a shrine but also a church, churchyard, or cemetery, and the right of asylum attached to such sacred ground. The word's core is the Latin "sanctus," meaning holy or sacred, which is also the root of "saint." The path into English ran through Old French. The Middle English form "seyntuarie" was adapted from the Old French "saintuaire," which in turn came from the Late Latin "sanctuarium." The vowel and consonant shapes shifted over the centuries, and the modern spelling was settled by later writers who looked back to the Latin. Because "sanctuarium" once referred to a private cabinet as well as a shrine, the same root covered both a place set apart for the divine and a place set apart for keeping valued things. The modern sense of a safe refuge from danger descends from the first of these, the consecrated ground where protection was owed.

Synonyms: refuge, haven

Antonyms: danger, threat