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Glite Dictionary
odour of sanctity

odour of sanctity

9.9
An impression that someone is very holy and morally good
  • noun
  • /ˈoʊdər əv ˈsæŋktɪti/
  • Archaic
translation icon : aura de santidad
  • The monk had an odour of sanctity that inspired everyone around him.

Examples

  • Many believed that she possessed an odour of sanctity after her charitable works.

  • The author's biography was written with such reverence, it gave her achievements an odour of sanctity.

  • Many believed the philanthropist's work was marked by an odour of sanctity rare in public life.

  • The aging monk carried an odour of sanctity that inspired respect throughout the monastery.

  • The aging monk carried an odour of sanctity that inspired respect throughout the monastery.

  • Many believed the philanthropist's work was marked by an odour of sanctity rare in public life.

  • Many believed that she possessed an odour of sanctity after her charitable works.

Synonyms

holiness
vsodour of sanctity
70 5.8

A state of being pure and close to God or to religious things

is an outward reputation of being seen as morally pure rather than inner reality
sanctity
vsodour of sanctity
66 7.2

Being holy or sacred and treated with great respect

is an outward reputation that others regard as morally pure rather than genuine state
sacredness
vsodour of sanctity
5 5.8

A quality that makes people treat something with deep religious respect

is an outward reputation claiming reverence rather than inner quality
saintliness
vsodour of sanctity
1 7.4

Being very kind, patient, and seen as holy

is an outward reputation of being virtuous rather than actual practiced goodness
sanctitude
vsodour of sanctity
9.9

A state of being holy or sacred

is an outward reputation suggesting purity rather than the real inner state
sacrality
vsodour of sanctity
  • Formal
9.9

Being holy or very important in a religion

is an outward reputation that implies religious worth rather than real connection
cleanness
vsodour of sanctity
  • Literature
6.0

The state of having honest thoughts and actions

is an outward reputation of purity rather than genuine moral state

How Holy

sainthood
11 7.0
odour of sanctity
  • Archaic
9.9
saintliness
1 7.4
piety
23 7.7

Surface Forms

odour of sanctity singular
odor of sanctity singular

Morphology

odour + of + sanctity

The constituent words 'odour' (smell) and 'sanctity' (holiness) do give a direct clue: the expression is a metaphorical extension where 'odour' stands for an aura or impression rather than a literal smell. This figurative mapping is somewhat predictable for a learner who knows both words, but the usage is literary and not fully compositional, so a B1 learner would likely need some exposure to interpret it correctly.

Etymology

The phrase odour of sanctity comes from old stories about holy people whose bodies or graves gave off a sweet smell after death, and people took that odour as proof of their sanctity. So, the phrase now means a kind of 'air' or 'reputation' of 'holiness'.