/ seɪnt; NAmE ; or, in British use before names, snt/ noun
1.
( abbr. S , St ) a person that the Christian Church recognizes as being very holy, because of the way they have lived or died :
St John
St Valentine's Day
The children were all named after saints.
—see also patron saint , St Bernard
2.
a very good, kind or patient person :
She's a saint to go on living with that man.
His behaviour would try the patience of a saint .
► saint·hood noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English , from Old French seint , from Latin sanctus holy, past participle of sancire consecrate.