holy

== English == === Alternative forms === holie, hooly (archaic) Holy (capitalized) 'oly (pronunciation spelling) === Etymology === From Middle English ali, aly, hale, halege, hali, halȝe, hayly, holi, holia, holie, holiȝ, holy, hooly, oli, oly, wholy, woly, from Old English hāleġ, hāliġ (“holy, sacred; healthy, sound”), from Proto-West Germanic *hailag, from Proto-Germanic *hailagaz (“holy, sacred”), from Proto-Germanic *hailaz (“healthy; whole”), from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos (“intact, whole; complete; hale, healthy, sound”), equivalent to whole +‎ -y and a doublet of later wholly. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhəʊli/ (US) enPR: hōʹlē, IPA(key): /ˈhoʊli/ Rhymes: -əʊli Homophones: wholly, holey (in accents without the wholly-holy split) === Adjective === holy (comparative holier, superlative holiest) Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god. Synonyms: sacred, godly Revered in a religion. Synonyms: sacred, godly; see also Thesaurus:holy Antonyms: profane, secular, unholy, worldly Morally perfect or flawless, or nearly so. Synonyms: faultless, flawless, perfect Antonyms: damaged, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else). (Can we add an example for this sense?) Synonyms: consecrated, hallowed, sanctified; see also Thesaurus:sanctified Set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose, or for use by a single entity or person. Synonyms: reserved, special Antonym: common (slang) Used as an intensifier in various interjections. Synonyms: blessed, cursed, infernal; see also Thesaurus:damned ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== Tok Pisin: holi ==== Translations ==== === Interjection === holy (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) (archaic) A thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in Holy of Holies. ==== Derived terms ==== holiest of holies Holy of Holies ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === hylo- == Middle English == === Etymology 1 === Inherited from Old English hāliġ, from Proto-West Germanic *hailag, from Proto-Germanic *hailagaz; equivalent to hool +‎ -y. ==== Alternative forms ==== hooly, holi, hooli, holye, holie, holly, hoolly, holli, hoolli, oly, oli, wholy, woly, hole, hali, haly, hayly, aly, ali, hale, hely, heli, holiȝ, holiȝe, holia, halge, halege, halȝe, hallȝhe, haliȝ, haliȝe, halie ==== Adjective ==== holy (plural and weak singular holye, comparative holyere, superlative holyest) Dedicated to or separated for a religious purpose; sacred, consecrated. Characterized by virtue or perfection. ===== Related terms ===== ===== Descendants ===== English: holy Scots: haly, halie Yola: holly, holy ==== Noun ==== holy (plural holies) The state of being holy; holiness. One who is sanctified or made holy; a saint, hallow A sacred place; a sanctuary ===== Derived terms ===== alle goddis holy holy of holies ===== Descendants ===== English: holy ==== References ==== “hōlī, adj.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 4 August 2018. “hōlī, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 4 August 2018. === Etymology 2 === From hole +‎ -y. ==== Alternative forms ==== holi, holly, holli ==== Adjective ==== holy Full of holes or cavities; porous, spongy; hollow. ===== Derived terms ===== holinesse ===== Descendants ===== English: holey ==== References ==== “holi, adj.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 4 August 2018. == Yola == === Adjective === holy alternative form of holly === 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