Standard Lemma guide

saintly

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈseɪntli/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: S EY1 N T L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Like or characteristic of a saint; befitting a holy person; saintlike.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Sophie led a saintly life.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

marked by utter benignity; resembling or befitting an angel or saint

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • angelic beneficence
  • a beatific smile
  • a saintly concern for his fellow men
  • my sainted mother

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: angelic, angelical, beatific, saintlike, sainted

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English *saintli (suggested by seyntly (adverb)), equivalent to saint + -ly. Compare saintlike.