sanctuary prudence famine eternity nadir

sanctuary

sanc·tu·a·ry /ˈsæŋktʃuəri, -tʃəri $ -tʃueri/ noun (plural sanctuaries)

[countable] an area for birds or animals where they are protected and cannot be hunted
1. bird/wildlife etc sanctuary
  1. The park is the largest wildlife sanctuary in the US.
2. sanctuary for
  1. a sanctuary for tigers
[uncountable and countable] a peaceful place that is safe and provides protection, especially for people who are in danger
1. find/seek sanctuary
  1. Fleeing refugees found sanctuary in Geneva.
2. sanctuary for
  1. a sanctuary for battered women
[countable] the part of a religious building that is considered to be the most holy
[countable] American English the room in a religious building where religious services take place
[uncountable] the right that people had under Christian law, especially in the past, to be protected from police, soldiers etc by staying in a church.

pru·dence /ˈpruːdəns/ noun [uncountable]

a sensible and careful attitude that makes you avoid unnecessary risks

fam·ine /ˈfæmən, ˈfæmɪn/ noun [uncountable and countable]

a situation in which a large number of people have little or no food for a long time and many people die

the great potato famine in Ireland
severe/widespread famine
- Widespread famine had triggered a number of violent protests
- A million people are facing famine

e·ter·ni·ty /ɪˈtɜːnəti, ɪˈtɜːnɪti $ -ɜːr-/ noun

an eternity a period of time that seems very long because you are annoyed, anxious etc
- Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity
- That week was an eternity of solitude and boredom.
[uncountable] the whole time without any end
1. a little animal preserved for all eternity as a fossil
[uncountable] the state of existence after death that some people believe continues for ever

na·dir /ˈneɪdɪə $ -dər/ noun [singular] written

the time when a situation is at is worst