holy

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: Holy, holý, Holý, holȝ, hoły, hồ ly, and hộ lý

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

  • holie, hooly (archaic)
  • Holy (when referring to someone or something important)
  • 'oly (pronunciation spelling)

Etymology[edit]

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 *kóh₂ilus (“healthy, whole”), equivalent to whole +‎ -y.

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[edit]

Adjective[edit]

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).
  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[edit]

Antonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

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

Interjection[edit]

holy

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

Usage notes[edit]

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

Noun[edit]

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[edit]

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Middle English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

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

Alternative forms[edit]

Adjective[edit]

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[edit]
Descendants[edit]
  • English: holy
  • Scots: haly, halie
  • Yola: holly, holy

Noun[edit]

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[edit]
Descendants[edit]

References[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

From hol +‎ -y.

Alternative forms[edit]

Adjective[edit]

holy

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

References[edit]

Yola[edit]

Adjective[edit]

holy

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

References[edit]

  • Jacob Poole (1867), 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, page 96
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=holy&oldid=75875314"