Where does “sanctity” come from?
sanctity (Middle English) comes from Old French sanctete, from Latin sanctitas, from Latin sānctus, from Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος, from Ancient Greek Ἰακώβ, from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב, from Hebrew עָקֵב — heel of the foot; heel.
Ancestry of “sanctity”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | sanctete | — |
| 2 | Latin | sanctitas | inviolability, sacredness, sanctity; holiness,... |
| 3 | Latin | sānctus | sacred, made inviolable, having been established as sacred |
| 4 | Latin | Iacobus | Jacob; James; Saint James |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Ἰάκωβος | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Ἰακώβ | Jacob |
| 7 | Hebrew | יַעֲקֹב | Jacob |
| 8 | Hebrew | עָקֵב | heel of the foot; heel |