odor of sanctity

1

: a fragrance held to proceed from the person, clothing, or domicile of a saint during life or after death

died in the odor of sanctity and … was canonized

—Charles Speroni

2

a

: an appearance of or reputation for goodness and righteousness

the odor of sanctity that seemed to cling about his every utterance

—Kenneth Roberts

b

: sanctimoniousness

Word History

Etymology

translation of Medieval Latin odor sanctitatis

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!