What is "sanctimony"

Sanctimony \Sanc"ti*mo*ny\, n. [L. sanctimonia, fr. sanctus holy: cf. OF. sanctimonie. See Saint.] Holiness; devoutness; scrupulous austerity; sanctity; especially, outward or artificial saintliness; assumed or pretended holiness; hypocritical devoutness.

Her pretense is a pilgrimage; . . . which holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplished.
--Shak.

1530s, from Middle French sanctimonie, from Latin sanctimonia "sacredness, holiness, virtuousness," from sanctus "holy" (see saint (n.)).

n. A hypocritical form of excessive piety, considered to be an affectation merely for public show.

n. the quality of being hypocritically devout [syn: sanctimoniousness]

Sanctimony is a 2000 crime/horror/thriller film starring Casper Van Dien, Michael Paré and Eric Roberts. It was written and directed by Uwe Boll. The film was released in late 2000.