Sanctuaries

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sanctuary \Sanc"tu*a*ry\, n.; pl. {Sanctuaries}. [OE.
     seintuarie, OF. saintuaire, F. sanctuaire, fr. L.
     sanctuarium, from sanctus sacred, holy. See {Saint}.]
     A sacred place; a consecrated spot; a holy and inviolable
     site. Hence, specifically:
     (a) The most retired part of the temple at Jerusalem, called


         the Holy of Holies, in which was kept the ark of the
         covenant, and into which no person was permitted to enter
         except the high priest, and he only once a year, to
         intercede for the people; also, the most sacred part of
         the tabernacle; also, the temple at Jerusalem.
     (b) (Arch.) The most sacred part of any religious building,
         esp. that part of a Christian church in which the altar
         is placed.
     (c) A house consecrated to the worship of God; a place where
         divine service is performed; a church, temple, or other
         place of worship.
     (d) A sacred and inviolable asylum; a place of refuge and
         protection; shelter; refuge; protection.
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               These laws, whoever made them, bestowed on temples
               the privilege of sanctuary.          --Milton.
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               The admirable works of painting were made fuel for
               the fire; but some relics of it took sanctuary
               under ground, and escaped the common destiny.
                                                    --Dryden.
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