saints

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of saint.

   Medieval pilgrims traveled great distances to visit the tombs of saints.

   Many saints were celebrated for their acts of charity toward the poor.

   Note

   The plural carries every meaning the singular has, and the range is wide: the officially canonized dead, the blessed in heaven, ordinary faithful believers, and anyone who simply does good. Capitalized, Saints names Mormons, the Latter-day Saints. The same spelling also serves the verb meaning "canonizes", so "the church saints her" and "the saints of the church" share one word.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of saint.

   Rome formally saints individuals only after a long process of investigation.

   The tradition saints martyrs who gave their lives for their beliefs.

   Note

   The verb behind this form is transitive, so it always takes an object: a church saints someone, never just "saints." It means to canonize, to honor, formally name or revere as a saint, and canonizes can stand in for it in any sentence. Unlike the plural noun, whose spelling it shares, it agrees with a single subject: the tradition saints, but the traditions saint.

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