Sanus

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing someone or something displaying soundness of mind or body ; indicating healthiness, wholesomeness, or safety ; relating to rational or sensible thinking
2. Characterizing mental or physical well-being and the absence of sickness ; referring to the state of being healthy or free from disease ; denoting sanity or clear-headedness
3. Pertaining to sound health or robust condition ; signifying a sensible, rational, or sound mind ; connected with safety, health, or wellness in general

Etymology: "Sanus" is Latin, and its core sense is physical: it described a body that was whole and working properly, and only later took on the mental and moral senses listed here. The word is related to "sanare", "to heal", and to "salvus", "safe, whole", which is why English descendants like "sane" and "salubrious" carry both health and safety. Words from "salvus" also gave English "salvage" and "salvation", a family in which the idea of being made whole runs through everything. The mental sense developed as the word was applied to the mind in the same way it had been applied to the body. A sound mind was one that was complete and functioning, and Latin writers used "sanus" for reasonable judgment as readily as for a healthy limb. English took the word as "sane" and kept both meanings, so a sane person can be someone who is simply well in mind, or someone who is sensible in a practical sense.

Synonyms: healthy, sound, well

Antonyms: unhealthy, ill