Dictionary / sanity
sanity
- noun
- from Middle French
The condition of being sane.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “sanity” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- countableuncountableThe condition of being sane.
preserve one's sanity
- countableuncountableReasonable and rational behaviour.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (1)
- nounnormal or sound powers of mind — also: saneness
Synonyms: buttons, lucidity, lucidness, marbles, mind, saneness, sanity
Antonyms: insanity, unsanity
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)sanity
- Middle Englishsanite
- Middle Frenchsanité
- Latinsānitās
- Latinsānus “healthy” + -itās “-ity”
From Middle English sanite, sanyte, sanytee, from Middle French sanité, from Latin sānitās, from sānus (“healthy”) + -itās (“-ity”). By surface analysis, sane + -ity.
Derivatives — words built from “sanity”
Phrases & compounds
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “sanity” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “sanity” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
sanity n. [L. sanitas, from sanus sound, healthy. See Sane.]
- The condition or quality of being sane; soundness of health of body or mind, especially of the mind; saneness.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: The condition of being sane.
preserve one's sanity
lose your sanity
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
sanity
/ˈsæn.əˌti/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
sanity
/ˈsæn.əˌti/ · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “sanity” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “sanity” and what each means:
Step 4 — Original meaning
Read the etymology on the page. What does it tell you about the word’s earlier meaning?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 5 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — sanity
Origin: C. Middle French (Middle French sanité)
Journey: English sanity ← Middle English sanite ← Middle French sanité ← Latin sānitās ← Latin sānus + -itās
Some derivatives: insanity, nonsanity, sanitary, sanitize
Built from: sānus “healthy” + -itās “-ity”
Etymology: From Middle English sanite, sanyte, sanytee, from Middle French sanité, from Latin sānitās, from sānus (“healthy”) + -itās (“-ity”). By surface analysis, sane + -ity.
Sources: Wiktionary “sanity” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sanity#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/sanity