1. a place of special sacredness.
2. the innermost chamber of the Biblical tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem, in which the ark of the covenant was kept.
3. Eastern Ch. the bema.
[ 1350-1400; ME, trans. of LL sanctum sanctorum (Vulgate), trans. of Gk tò hágion tôn hagíon, itself trans. of Heb qodesh haqqodashim ]