noun
Very common
san
SAN
San (noun) means informal short form of sanatorium. Example: “The old san on the hill is now a hotel.”
noun
1
Informal short form of sanatorium.
"The old san on the hill is now a hotel."
"Grandad remembers being sent to the san as a boy with a bad chest."
"He spent six months recovering in the san after his surgery."
""Haven't you heard?" said Belinda. "Joan's ill! She'd got a high temperature, and she's in bed in the San.""
— Enid Blyton, The Naughtiest Girl in the School (1940)
"‘I was in the san for ten months before the war. I know all the gen about being sick.’"
— Doris Lessing, A Ripple From the Storm (1958)
"River Glade Sanatorium, River Glade, June 25, 1931. The "San" at River Glade with the Petitcodiac River in the background."
— Dan Soucoup, Richard Thorne McCully (2005)
2
Any of several indigenous foraging peoples of southwestern Africa.
"Our teacher explained how the San hunted and gathered food in the desert."
"Many San communities have lived in the region for thousands of years."
"The museum exhibit featured San rock art from the Kalahari."
How to use san
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither shorthand for "sanatorium," or the name of the indigenous San peoples of southern Africa.
When to use it
The sanatorium sense is informal, mostly British usage.
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Word forms
- Plural
- sans
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The old _____ on the hill is now a hotel.
Etymology
Came from Ancient Greek σάν (sán), which in turn came from a Semitic language.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “san” mean?
The word “san” means informal short form of sanatorium. In plain terms, either shorthand for "sanatorium," or the name of the indigenous San peoples of southern Africa.
How do you pronounce “san”?
“San” is pronounced SAN (/ˈsæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “san” in a sentence?
Here is “san” used in a sentence: “He spent six months recovering in the san after his surgery.”
What part of speech is “san”?
“San” is a noun.
Is “san” a common word?
“San” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “san” have?
“San” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal short form of sanatorium.
What does 'san' mean?
San is an informal, shortened word for a sanatorium: a medical facility where people with long-term illness go to be treated or to recover. The term was especially common when tuberculosis was widespread, when patients might spend months in 'the san'. It is casual, clipped English rather than a formal medical label.
What is a sanatorium?
A sanatorium is an institution for treating chronic illness or for rest and recovery, historically used for diseases such as tuberculosis that needed long stays, fresh air, and supervised care. Some were also health retreats where people went to recuperate. 'San' is simply the everyday short form of this longer word.
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