sanctum

/ˈsæŋktəm/
noun
  1. A private or sacred place that is not easily entered by others; a retreat.
    • She retreated to her sanctum at the top of the house to write.
    • Only the high priest was allowed into the inner sanctum of the temple.
    • The professor's office was his sanctum, filled with books and papers.
  2. A place that is considered especially holy, such as the most sacred part of a religious building.
    • They entered the sanctum with a sense of awe and reverence.
    • The ancient sanctum housed the relics of the saint.
    • The inner sanctum of the shrine was off-limits to tourists.
What does "sanctum" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean