holy

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word holy. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word holy, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say holy in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word holy you have here. The definition of the word holy will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofholy, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Holy, holý, Holý, holȝ, hoły, hồ ly, and hộ lý

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English holi, hali, from Old English hāliġ, hāleġ (“holy, consecrated, sacred, venerated, godly, saintly, ecclesiastical, pacific, tame”), from Proto-West Germanic *hailag, from Proto-Germanic *hailagaz (“holy, bringing health”), from Proto-Germanic *hailaz (“healthy, whole”), from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos (“healthy, whole”), equivalent to whole +‎ -y and a doublet of later wholly.

Cognates
Cognate with Scots haly (“holy”), West Frisian hillich (“holy”), Low German hillig (“holy”), Dutch heilig (“holy”), German heilig (“holy”), Danish hellig (“holy”), Swedish helig (“holy”). More at whole.

Pronunciation

Adjective

holy (comparative holier, superlative holiest)

  1. Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.
    I'm planning to visit the holy city of Jerusalem this Christmas.
  2. Revered in a religion.
    This tree is considered holy in my culture.
  3. Morally perfect or flawless, or nearly so.
    My grandmother is a very holy woman.
  4. Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else). (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  5. Set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose, or for use by a single entity or person.
  6. (slang) Used as an intensifier in various interjections.
    Holy cow, I can’t believe he actually lost the race!
    Those children next door are holy terrors!

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Interjection

holy

  1. (slang) An expression of astonishment and awe.
    Synonym: holy shit

Usage notes

  • (MTE) When spoken aloud, the first syllable is elongated ("Hoooly!") and stress is placed on the second syllable.

Noun

holy (plural holies)

  1. (archaic) A thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in Holy of Holies.
    • 1882, Franz von Reber, Joseph Thacher Clarke, History of Ancient Art, page 146:
      The holy of holies, a cubical space of ten cubits on the side, was separated from the larger antechamber by four columns, which were also covered with gold and stood upon silver sockets; they bore a second curtain of four colors.

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English hāliġ, from Proto-West Germanic *hailag, from Proto-Germanic *hailagaz; equivalent to hool +‎ -y.

Alternative forms

Adjective

holy (plural and weak singular holye, comparative holyere, superlative holyest)

  1. Dedicated to or separated for a religious purpose; sacred, consecrated.
  2. Characterized by virtue or perfection.
    • 1407, The Testimony of William Thorpe, page 37:
      […] of moost holi lyuynge, and best taught and moost wyse of heuenly wysdom […]
      of the most holy living, and the best-taught and wisest heavenly wisdom
Related terms
Descendants
  • English: holy
  • Scots: haly, halie
  • Yola: holly, holy

Noun

holy (plural holies)

  1. The state of being holy; holiness.
  2. One who is sanctified or made holy; a saint, hallow
  3. A sacred place; a sanctuary
Derived terms
Descendants

References

Etymology 2

From hol +‎ -y.

Alternative forms

Adjective

holy

  1. Full of holes or cavities; porous, spongy; hollow.
Derived terms
Descendants

References

Yola

Adjective

holy

  1. Alternative form of holly
    • 1867, “THE WEDDEEN O BALLYMORE”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 6, page 96:
      To our pleoughès an mulk-pylès till a neeshte holy die.
      To our ploughs and our milk-pails till the next holiday.

References

  • Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 96
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia