Holy vs Saint - What's the difference?
holy | saint |
Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.
Revered in a religion.
Perfect or flawless.
Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else).
Set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose, or for use by a single entity or person.
(slang) Used as an intensifier in various interjections.
(archaic) A thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in (Holy of Holies).
* Franz von Reber, Joseph Thacher Clarke, History of Ancient Art (1882) p. 146:
A person to whom a church or another religious group has officially attributed the title of "saint"; a holy or godly person; one eminent for piety and virtue.
(figuratively, by extension) A person with positive qualities; one who does good.
One who is sanctified or made holy; a person who is separated unto God’s service.
One of the blessed in heaven.
* Milton
(nonstandard) To canonize, to formally recognize someone as a saint.
As nouns the difference between holy and saint
is that holy is a thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in {{term|Holy of Holies}} while saint is a person to whom a church or another religious group has officially attributed the title of "saint"; a holy or godly person; one eminent for piety and virtue.As an adjective holy
is dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.As a verb saint is
to canonize, to formally recognize someone as a saint.holy
English
Adjective
(er)- I'm planning to visit the holy city of Mecca this Ramadan.
- Holy cow, I can’t believe he actually lost the race!
Synonyms
* (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god) sacred * (revered in a religion) sacred * faultless, flawless, perfect * (separated or set apart from something) sanctified * (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose) reserved, specialAntonyms
* (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god) * (revered in a religion) profane, secular, unholy, worldly * damaged, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect * (separated or set apart from something) * (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose) commonDerived terms
* holiest of holies * holiness * holy cats * holy cow * holy crap * Holy Ghost * Holy Grail * Holy of Holies * holy mackerel * holy moly, holy moley * holy Moses * holy mother of God * Holy See * holy shit * holy smoke * holy snakes * Holy Spirit * holy Toledo * Holy Trinity * holy war * holy water * Holy WeekNoun
(holies)- The holy of holies, a cubical space of ten cubits on the side, was separated from the larger antechamber by four columns, which were also covered with gold and stood upon silver sockets; they bore a second curtain of four colors.
Derived terms
* holiest of holies * Holy of Holiessaint
English
Noun
(wikipedia saint) (en noun)- Kateri Tekakwitha was proclaimed a saint .
- Dorothy Day was a living saint .
- Thanks for looking after the house while I'm away. You're a saint !
- to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints , with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours. (1Cor. 1:2)
- Then shall thy saints , unmixed, and from the impure / Far separate, circling thy holy mount, / Unfeigned hallelujahs to thee sing.
Synonyms
* (holy person) (l), sheikSee also
* hallow * holos * holyVerb
(en verb)- Many wish to see Pope John Paul II sainted immediately.