\Sanc"ti*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sanctified}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Sanctifying}.] [F. sanctifier, L. sanctificare;
sanctus holy + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See {Saint}, and
{-fy}.]
1. To make sacred or holy; to set apart to a holy or
   religious use; to consecrate by appropriate rites; to
   hallow.
         God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.
                                               --Gen. ii. 3.
         Moses . . . sanctified Aaron and his garments.
                                               --Lev. viii.
                                               30.
2. To make free from sin; to cleanse from moral corruption
   and pollution; to purify.
         Sanctify them through thy truth.      --John xvii.
                                               17.
3. To make efficient as the means of holiness; to render
   productive of holiness or piety.
         A means which his mercy hath sanctified so to me as
         to make me repent of that unjust act. --Eikon
                                               Basilike.
4. To impart or impute sacredness, venerableness,
   inviolability, title to reverence and respect, or the
   like, to; to secure from violation; to give sanction to.
         The holy man, amazed at what he saw, Made haste to
         sanctify the bliss by law.            --Dryden.
         Truth guards the poet, sanctifies the line. --Pope.