sanctify

verb

Etymology: From Anglo-Norman seintefier, from Old French saintefier, from Late Latin sānctificō, from Latin sānctus (“holy”) + faciō (“do, make”). Form altered to conform with Latin.

1. To make holy; to consecrate; to set aside for sacred or ceremonial use.

   “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

2. To free from sin; to purify.

   “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

   “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”

3. To make acceptable or useful under religious law or practice.

   “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

4. To endorse with religious sanction.