saint

Etymology 1

From Middle English saint, seint, sainct, seinct, sanct, senct, partly from Old English sanct (“saint”) and confluence with Old French saint, seinte (Modern French saint); both from Latin sanctus (“holy, consecrated”, in Late Latin as a noun, “a saint”), past participle of sancire (“to render sacred, make holy”), akin to sacer (“holy, sacred”). Displaced native Middle English halwe (“saint”) from Old English hālga (“saint, holy one”) (> Modern English hallow (“saint”)).

noun

1. A deceased person whom a church or another religious group has officially recognised as especially holy or godly; one eminent for piety and virtue.
   1. (Christianity, doctrinal) A Christian; a faithful believer in the present world.
   2. (Christianity) One of the blessed in heaven.
2. (figurative, by extension) A person with similarly overwhelming positive qualities; one who does good.
   Dorothy Day was a living saint.
   Thanks for looking after the house while I'm away. You're a saint!
3. (archaic) A holy object.

Etymology 2

From Middle English saynten, seinten, sonten, partly from Anglo-Norman saintir and partly from the noun Middle English seint, seynt (see above).

verb

1. (transitive) Synonym of canonize: to honor, formally name, or revere as a saint.
   Many Catholics wished to see Pope John Paul II sainted immediately after his death.