Saint
Definition
Saint refers to a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God.
Parts of Speech
- Noun
- Verb (less common usage)
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /seɪnt/
- Respelling: SAYNT (with "SAYNT" rhyming with "paint")
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /seɪnt/
- Respelling: SAYNT (similar to American English, with "SAYNT" rhyming with "paint")
In both dialects, "saint" has a straightforward pronunciation, featuring a long "ay" sound followed by "nt." It rhymes with words like "paint" and "faint," making the pronunciation consistent across both American and British English.
Etymology
The word "saint" is derived from the Old French "seinte", which is in turn derived from the Latin word "sanctus" meaning holy.
Derivatives
- Saintly
- Sainted
- Saintlike
- Saintliness
- Saints' (as in Saints' Day)
Synonyms
- Holy person
- Angel
- Virtuous
Antonyms
- Sinner
- Devil
- Reprobate
Usage
The term 'saint' is primarily used to refer to individuals who have been canonized by the Catholic Church or recognized in other Christian denominations for their exceptional holiness. It is also used in a more informal sense to describe someone who is perceived to be particularly good or noble.
Related Terms
- Sainthood
- Canonization
- All Saints' Day
Detailed Definition
Noun
- Religious Context: An individual who has been recognized for living a holy, virtuous, or exceptionally good life, often one who has been canonized by a Christian church.
- Example: Saint Francis of Assisi is known for his love for animals and nature.
- Informal Usage: A person of great kindness, virtue, or patience.
- Example: He was a saint for putting up with such difficult circumstances.
Verb
- To Canonize: To formally recognize or give the title of saint to, especially by a Christian church.
- Example: Mother Teresa was sainted by the Catholic Church in 2016.
saint
Saint Francis of Assisi is known for his love for animals and nature.
The people gathered around to celebrate the canonization of a new saint.
Mother Teresa was sainted by the Catholic Church in 2016.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 圣人 (shèngrén)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʂəŋ˥˩ ʐən˧˥/
- Respelling in English: shung-ren
- 圣 (shèng)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʂəŋ˥˩/
- Respelling in English: shung
🇮🇳 Hindi
- संत (sant)
- IPA Pronunciation: /sʌnt/
- Respelling in English: sunt
- महात्मा (mahātmā)
- IPA Pronunciation: /məˈɦɑːt̪.mɑː/
- Respelling in English: muh-haa-tmaa
🇪🇸 Spanish
- santo (for males) / santa (for females)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsanto/ /ˈsanta/
- Respelling in English: sahn-toh / sahn-tah
🇫🇷 French
- saint (for males) / sainte (for females)
- IPA Pronunciation: /sɛ̃/ /sɛ̃t/
- Respelling in English: san / sant
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- قديس (qaddīs)
- IPA Pronunciation: /qadːiːs/
- Respelling in English: qad-dees
🇧🇩 Bengali
- সন্ত (shonto)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʃɔnto/
- Respelling in English: shon-to
- পুনিত (punīta)
- IPA Pronunciation: /punita/
- Respelling in English: poo-neeta
🇷🇺 Russian
- святой (svyatoy)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsvjæ.toj/
- Respelling in English: svyaa-toy
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- santo (for males) / santa (for females)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsɐ̃.tu/ /ˈsɐ̃.tɐ/
- Respelling in English: sahn-too / sahn-tah
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- santo (for males) / santa (for females)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsanto/ /ˈsanta/
- Respelling in English: sahn-toh / sahn-tah
🇩🇪 German
- Heiliger (for males) / Heilige (for females)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈhaɪ.lɪ.ɡər/ /ˈhaɪ.lɪ.ɡə/
- Respelling in English: high-lih-ger / high-lih-geh
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 聖者 (seija)
- IPA Pronunciation: /seːd͡ʑa/
- Respelling in English: say-jah
- 聖 (sei)
- IPA Pronunciation: /seː/
- Respelling in English: say
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- thánh
- IPA Pronunciation: /tʰaːŋ˧˥/
- Respelling in English: thanh
- hiền nhân
- IPA Pronunciation: /hjen˨˩ ɲaːn˧/
- Respelling in English: hyen nyan
🇰🇷 Korean
- 성자 (seongja)
- IPA Pronunciation: /sʌŋ.dʑa/
- Respelling in English: sung-jah
- 성인 (seongin)
- IPA Pronunciation: /sʌŋ.in/
- Respelling in English: sung-in
🇹🇷 Turkish
- aziz
- IPA Pronunciation: /aːˈziz/
- Respelling in English: aa-zees
- evliya
- IPA Pronunciation: /evliːja/
- Respelling in English: ev-lee-ya
🇵🇰 Urdu
- مقدس (muqaddas)
- IPA Pronunciation: /mʊqədːəs/
- Respelling in English: muqad-das
- ولی (wali)
- IPA Pronunciation: /wəliː/
- Respelling in English: wuh-lee
