sanctuary
sanc·tu·ary (saŋk′c̸ho̵̅o̅ er′ē)
noun pl. -·ar′·ies
- a holy place, as a building set aside for worship of the divinity or of one or more deities; specif.,
- the ancient Temple at Jerusalem
- a Christian church
- any church or temple
- a particularly holy place within a church or temple, as the part around the altar, the holy of holies in the Jewish Temple, etc.
- a place of refuge or protection; asylum: orig., fugitives from justice were immune from arrest in churches or other sacred places
- immunity from punishment or the law, as by taking refuge in a church, etc.
- a reservation where animals or birds are sheltered for breeding purposes and may not be hunted or trapped
Etymology: ME < MFr saintuaire < LL sanctuarium < L sanctus, sacred: see saint
sanctuary
n.
A sacred place
chancel, Holy of Holies, shrine, sanctum, church, temple; see also church 1, temple.A place to which one may retire
asylum, resort, haven, convent, screen, defense, shield, protection, refuge, retreat, shelter, den. A refuge for wild life
shelter, game refuge, park, national park. See syn. study at shelter.shelter.
Converse of object
- seek: Read about what led him to seek sanctuary at Worth Abbey.
- enter: We meandered into the cathedral, entering an inner sanctuary which our local guide assured us wasn't usually open.
- destroy: There are enough whores around, he reasons why do I want to destroy this sanctuary?
- find: The only place where he can find sanctuary is the river.
- reach: Homer Simpson 10th August, 2002 But you don't reach sanctuary just by looking at the sky.
Preposition: for
- wildlife: The object is to provide an urban sanctuary for wildlife.
- bird: In spite of all their flowery words, She's now a sanctuary for the birds.
Adjective modifier
- heavenly: There is a heavenly Jerusalem, a heavenly sanctuary.
- innermost: I found myself taking part in an ancient Egyptian initiation ceremony within an innermost sanctuary.
- earthly: Why should carnall ordinances & an earthly sanctuary still remayne & the worship in spirit & in truth be yet refused?
- inner: Also the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold.
- peaceful: Jamyang Buddhist Center provides a peaceful drop-in sanctuary for local people.
- marine: There are at present 12 national marine sanctuaries scattered along the coasts of the US.
Modifies a noun
- knocker: Today, the sanctuary knocker hangs in the hall over the high table.
Noun used with modifier
- wildlife: We are even lucky enough to have our own wildlife sanctuary in the back yard!
- seabird: I've taken cruises seabird sanctuary by has the greatest.
- donkey: Information sheet 2: Donkey Sanctuary notes on feeding.
- bird: Watch a special renowned bird sanctuary the finest in china.
- otter: Yesterday was Bamburgh beach and Berwick on Tweed, tomorrow the otter sanctuary in the North Pennines.
- chimpanzee: Cameroon has three chimpanzee sanctuaries, all of which are constantly trying to keep up with the flow of orphans.
We were now actually in the inner sanctuary of the Nanda Devi Basin, and at each step I experienced that subtlethrill which anyone of imagination must feel when treading hitherto unexplored country My most blissful dream as a child was to be in some such valley, free to wander where I liked, and discover for myself some hitherto unrevealed glory of Nature. Now the reality was no less wonderful than that half-forgotten dream; and of how many childish fancies can that be said, in this age of disillusionment ?
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and fora rockof offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
There arethree classes whichneed sanctuary morethan othersöbirds, wild flowers, and Prime Ministers.
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until Iwent intothesanctuaryof God; thenunderstood I their end.
Browse dictionary entries near sanctuary
- sanctity
- sanction
- sanctimony
- sanctimonious
- sanctify
- sanctified
- Sancho Panza
- Sancerre
- sanbenito
- sanatorium
- sanctum
- sanctum sanctorum
- Sanctus
- Sanctus bell
- sand
- sand-cast
- sand dab
- sand dollar
- sand eel
- sand flea
