Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A sacred or holy place.
- noun A private place where one is free from intrusion.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A sacred place; a private retreat or room: as, an editor's sanctum.
- noun Any specially private place or retreat, not to be entered except by special permission or favor.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A sacred place; hence, a place of retreat; a room reserved for personal use.
- noun the Holy of Holies; the most holy place, as in the Jewish temple.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A place set apart, as with a
sanctum sanctorum ; a private retreat or workroom. A sacred or private place.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a sacred place of pilgrimage
- noun a place of inviolable privacy
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Department, "while beyond this second sanctum was a third door which led into the _sanctum sanctorum_ with its unexpected exit upon a narrow back hallway and a dusty flight of stairs by which it was possible without undue publicity to reach the street or, rather, the back lane where carters made deliveries.
Every Man for Himself Hopkins Moorhouse
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The latter was out, so Frank accompanied his friend to what he called his sanctum,
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Around professional sports, these lockers tend to be the most coveted by athletes, providing a quick escape from the media whenever the players 'inner sanctum is open to public inspection.
One Jet's Upside-Down Dream Scott Cacciola 2010
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When your inner sanctum is full of the type people with the characters that Bush relies on to tell him how to do his job, then what does anybody expect from the President.
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Built in the late 19th century, this shingle-style home in Cutchogue, N.Y., features a library with a hidden door leading to an office known as the 'sanctum.'
Waterfront in Long Island Sushil Cheema 2011
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The tall bookshelf shown at right is a hidden door leading to an office known as the 'sanctum.'
Waterfront in Long Island Sushil Cheema 2011
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The sanctum was a trifle larger than the outer room, but almost equally bare; half-a-dozen deed-boxes were piled up in one corner.
Australia Felix 2003
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His sanctum was a large corner room brightened by French doors and ringed by a balcony.
Over the Edge Jonathan Kellerman 1987
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His sanctum was a large corner room brightened by French doors and ringed by a balcony.
Over the Edge Jonathan Kellerman 1987
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His sanctum was a large corner room brightened by French doors and ringed by a balcony.
Over the Edge Jonathan Kellerman 1987
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