From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsanctifysanc‧ti‧fy /ˈsæŋktɪfaɪ/ verb (sanctified, sanctifying, sanctifies) [transitive] 1 APPROVEto make something seem morally right or acceptable or to give something official approval The rule of the czar was sanctified by the Russian Orthodox Church.2 RRto make something holy —sanctification /ˌsæŋktɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun [uncountable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
sanctify• From the mountains, from the plains, from far-off villages, they came to be sanctified by seeing or touching him.• The bishops expected the hallowed Authorized Version to maintain its mastery because it was sanctified in everyone's affections and moral sentiments.• We sanctify ourselves through literate participation in collective reverence for our past.• These arbitrary customs have been sanctified over a long time.• The rest continued the praying through, welcoming the newly sanctified with laughter and hugs.Origin sanctify (1300-1400) Old French sanctifier, from Late Latin sanctificare, from Latin sanctus; → SAINT 