holy water

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English holy water, haly water, hali water, holiwater, halywater, from Old English hāliġwæter (“holy water”), equivalent to holy +‎ water. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhəʊli ˌwɔːtə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhoʊli ˌwɔtəɹ/, [-ɾəɹ], (cot–caught merger) /-ˌwɑtəɹ/ Hyphenation: holy wat‧er === Noun === holy water (usually uncountable, plural holy waters) (Christianity) In certain Christian churches, water that has been sanctified by a priest or bishop for the purpose of baptism or for the blessing of persons, places, or things. ==== Derived terms ==== holy-water sprinkle, holy water sprinkler ==== Translations ==== ==== Further reading ==== holy water on Wikipedia.Wikipedia