saint /seɪnt/
noun [countable][
Date: 1100-1200;
Language: Old French;
Origin: Late Latin sanctus, from Latin, 'holy', from the past participle of sancire 'to confirm, make holy']
1. (
written abbreviation St or St.) someone who is given the title ‘saint’ by the Christian Church after they have died, because they have been very good or holy:
Saint Patrick Statues of saints lined the walls of the church.2. informal someone who is extremely good, kind, or patient:
His wife must have been a saint to put up with him for all those years.3. the patience of a saint a very large amount of patience:
You need the patience of a saint for this job. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲