sanctify
Meaning
to make something holy or to give it official religious approval.
to make something seem morally right or acceptable.
Structure
Usage
the ceremony was held to sanctify the new chapel.
he refused to sanctify the violence by calling it a holy war.
a tradition can sanctify a practice, making it difficult to question.
Etymology
the word sanctify has a direct lineage from latin, entering english via old french. its core component, 'sanct-', derives from the latin verb 'sancire', meaning to make sacred or to ratify, which itself is related to 'sacer' (sacred). the suffix '-ify', from latin '-ficare', is a productive element in english that converts nouns or adjectives into verbs meaning 'to make'. thus, the literal construction 'to make holy' perfectly captures the modern abstract meanings of conferring holiness or moral legitimacy.
Analysis
sanct originates from latin 'sanctus', meaning holy or sacred, and functions as the core root conveying the concept of holiness. ify is a verb-forming suffix from latin '-ficare', meaning to make or to do.