- sanction (n.)
- 1560s, "confirmation or enactment of a law," from Latin sanctionem (nominative sanctio) "act of decreeing or ordaining," also "decree, ordinance," from sanctus, past participle of sancire "to decree, confirm, ratify, make sacred" (see saint). Originally especially of ecclesiastical decrees. The verb sense of "to permit authoritatively" is from 1797. Related: Sanctioned; sanctioning.