sanctus

S1A1N1C3T1U1S1

proper noun

A prayer in Christian liturgy, beginning “Holy, holy, holy …” and typically said or sung as a hymn shortly before the anaphora.

UncommonScrabble 9

Meanings

sanctus1

proper noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of Sanctus.

    Egypt, however, developed its own unique supplicatory use of the sanctus.

    1991, Bryan D. Spinks, The Sanctus in the Eucharistic Prayer, →ISBN, page 116

Sanctus2

proper noun

alternative sanctus

  1. A prayer in Christian liturgy, beginning “Holy, holy, holy …” and typically said or sung as a hymn shortly before the anaphora.

Origin

  1. Latinsānctus“holy”
  2. EnglishSanctus

Borrowed from Latin sānctus (“holy”), the opening word of the prayer in that language. The prayer is taken from Isaiah 6:3 and Matthew 21:9. Doublet of saint.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French Sanctus
  • Sanctusliturgical prayer
German Sanctus
  • Sanctusliturgical prayer

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

sanctus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sanctus

MLA

“sanctus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sanctus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sanctus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sanctus.

Source: sanctus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.