holy

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Antonyms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Derived terms 1.4.2 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English halig; compare German heilige

[edit] Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /ˈhəʊli/, SAMPA: /"h@Uli/
• (US) enPR: hōʹlē, IPA: /ˈhoʊli/, SAMPA: /"hoUli/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -əʊli
• Homophones: holey, wholly (in accents with the wine-whine merger)

[edit] Adjective

holy (comparative holier, superlative holiest)

1. Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.
2. Revered in a religion.
3. Perfect or flawless.
4. Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else).
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!

[edit] Synonyms

• (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god): sacred
• (revered in a religion): sacred
• (perfect, flawless): faultless, flawless, perfect
• (separated or set apart from something):
• (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose): reserved, special

[edit] Antonyms

• (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god):
• (revered in a religion): profane, secular, unholy, worldly
• (perfect, flawless): damaged, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect
• (separated or set apart from something):
• (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose): common

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

holy (plural holies)

1. (archaic) A thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in Holy of Holies.
   • Franz von Reber, Joseph Thacher Clarke, History of Ancient Art (1882) p. 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.

[edit] Derived terms

• holiest of holies
• Holy of Holies

[edit] Translations