salvific

adjective

sal·​vif·​ic sal-ˈvi-fik How to pronounce salvific (audio)
: having the intent or power to save or redeem
the salvific life and death of ChristE. A. Walsh

Examples of salvific in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But Whitehead literalized the metaphor, and Jenkins corroborates that pomposity, neglecting black spirituality, blunting any poetic, salvific beauty of liberation. Armond White, National Review, 12 May 2021 By depicting this historical atrocity and recasting it within a salvific Black narrative, with Black heroes ready to fight, these stories offer a way, much like the blues, to transcend pain not by evading it but by making it into art. New York Times, 24 Mar. 2021 Yet those salvific moves haven’t eased the ethnic tension, economic challenges, and institutional corruption that has bedeviled the nation. Abdi Latif Dahir, Quartz Africa, 24 June 2019 That meaning gained will remain for the living to have, and can be salvific. John Crowley, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019 Unfortunately, Senator Murphy’s belief in the cleansing, salvific power of the state is not at all foreign to American politics — not even close. Elliot Kaufman, National Review, 28 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'salvific.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin salvificus, from Latin salvus safe + -ficus -fic

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of salvific was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near salvific

Cite this Entry

“Salvific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salvific. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

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