holy

== English == === Alternative forms === holie, hooly (archaic) Holy (when referring to someone or something important) 'oly (pronunciation spelling) === Etymology === Inherited 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. 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 === (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. Revered in a religion. Morally perfect or flawless, or nearly so. Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else). (Can we add an example for this sense?) Set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose, or for use by a single entity or person. (slang) Used as an intensifier in various interjections. ==== Synonyms ==== (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god): sacred, godly (revered in a religion): sacred, godly (perfect, flawless): faultless, flawless, perfect (separated or set apart from something): sanctified (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose): reserved, special ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “revered in a religion”): profane, secular, unholy, worldly (antonym(s) of “perfect, flawless”): damaged, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect (antonym(s) of “set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose”): common ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== hallow hallowed ==== 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