n. (pl. -ies) 1 a holy place; a church, temple, etc. 2 a the inmost recess or holiest part of a temple etc. b the part of the chancel containing the high altar. 3 a place where birds, wild animals, etc., are bred and protected. 4 a place of refuge, esp. for political refugees. 5 a immunity from arrest. b the right to offer this. 6 hist. a sacred place where a fugitive from the law or a debtor was secured by medieval Church law against arrest or violence. take sanctuary resort to a place of refuge.
[ ME f. AF sanctuarie, OF sanctuaire f. L sanctuarium (as SAINT) ]