saintliness

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the quality of being exceptionally holy, virtuous, selfless, or like a saint

   Her reputation for saintliness rested on decades of humble service to the poor.

Formed in English from saintly plus -ness. Saintly combines saint with -ly; saint came through Old French from Latin sanctus, 'holy or consecrated,' the past participle of sancire, 'to make sacred or binding.'

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