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sanctuary |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sanctuary \Sanc"tu*a*ry\, n.; pl {Sanctuaries}. [OE. seintuarie OF saintuaire F. sanctuaire fr L. sanctuarium from sanctus sacred, holy. See {Saint}.] A sacred place a consecrated spot; a holy and inviolable site. Hence specifically: a The most retired part of the temple at Jerusalem, called the Holy of Holies, in which was kept the ark of the covenant, and into which no person was permitted to enter except the high priest, and he only once a year, to intercede for the people; also the most sacred part of the tabernacle; also the temple at Jerusalem. b (Arch.) The most sacred part of any religious building, esp. that part of a Christian church in which the altar is placed. c A house consecrated to the worship of God; a place where divine service is performed; a church, temple, or other place of worship. d A sacred and inviolable asylum; a place of refuge and protection; shelter; refuge; protection. These laws, whoever made them bestowed on temples the privilege of sanctuary. --Milton. The admirable works of painting were made fuel for the fire; but some relics of it took sanctuary under ground, and escaped the common destiny. --Dryden. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: sanctuary n 1: a shelter from danger or hardship [syn: {refuge}, {asylum}] 2: area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing [syn: {chancel}, {bema}] From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: Sanctuary, TX (town, FIPS 65066) Location: 32.90870 N, 97.58391 W Population (1990): 234 (88 housing units) Area: 0.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Sanctuary denotes, (1) the Holy Land (Ex. 15:17; comp. Ps 114:2); (2) the temple (1 Chr. 22:19; 2 Chr. 29:21); (3) the tabernacle (Ex. 25:8; Lev. 12:4; 21:12); (4) the holy place the place of the Presence (Gr. hieron, the temple-house; not the _naos_, which is the temple area, with its courts and porches), Lev. 4:6; Eph. 2:21, R.V., marg.; (5) God's holy habitation in heaven (Ps. 102:19). In the final state there is properly "no sanctuary" (Rev. 21:22), for God and the Lamb "are the sanctuary" (R.V., "temple"). All is there hallowed by the Divine Presence; all is sancturary.
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