saintly
Meaning
resembling or characteristic of a saint, especially in being morally excellent, virtuous, or kind.
Structure
Usage
she was known for her saintly patience and compassion.
his saintly demeanor belied a fierce inner determination.
the biography portrayed the historical figure in an overly saintly light.
Etymology
the word 'saintly' is a modern english formation that combines the noun 'saint' with the adjectival suffix '-ly'. the root 'saint' itself has a long journey, entering english via old french 'seint' from the latin 'sanctus', meaning 'holy, consecrated', a past participle of 'sancire' ('to consecrate'). the suffix '-ly' descends from the old english '-lic', used to create adjectives meaning 'body or form of', which evolved into the modern sense of 'characteristic of'. therefore, 'saintly' literally means 'having the qualities or character of a holy, consecrated person', a meaning that has remained consistent from its formation to its present abstract sense describing exceptional virtue or piety.
Analysis
saint: from latin 'sanctus' meaning 'holy, consecrated'. functions as the core noun root. ly: from old english '-lic', meaning 'having the qualities of'. functions as a derivational suffix forming adjectives.