Wiktionary

holy

See also: Holy, holý, Holý, holȝ, hoły, hồ ly, and hộ lý

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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

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Adjective

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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.
    • 1877, E.B. Browning, Some account of the Greek Christian poets, page 147:
      ... where he and Basil read together poems and philosophies, and holier things, or talked low and misopogonistcally of their fellow-student Julian’s bearded boding smile were his happiest days.
    • 2021 July 20, Andrew Carey, “A fragile status quo on prayer rights at Jerusalem holy site comes under fresh strain”, in CNN‎[1]:
      The growing sense that more and more religious Jews are now worshiping openly at the holy site was given support by a report over the weekend on Israel’s Channel 12, which broadcast footage of Jewish prayer sessions and Torah lessons it said were being held there daily.
    • 2022 February 14, Chuck Johnston and Steve Almasy, “A pastor baptized people for decades using one wrong word. Now those are all considered invalid”, in CNN‎[2]:
      “Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier,” the conference says on its website.
    • 2023 November 6, Peter Beaumont, Bethan McKernan, “Israeli troops encircle Gaza City and expected to enter in force within 48 hours”, in The Guardian‎[3], →ISSN:
      On Tuesday, a month since they were abducted, families of those kidnapped are expected to protest at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem, the holiest site in Judaism, as well as at the Knesset, over what they say are inadequate efforts to reach a deal with Hamas to release their loved ones.
  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). (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  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

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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

Interjection

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holy

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

Usage notes

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

Noun

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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

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Translations

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Anagrams

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Middle English

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Etymology 1

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

Alternative forms

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Adjective

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

Noun

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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
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Descendants
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References

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Etymology 2

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From hol +‎ -y.

Alternative forms

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Adjective

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holy

  1. Full of holes or cavities; porous, spongy; hollow.
Derived terms
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Descendants
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References

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Yola

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Adjective

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holy

  1. Alternative form of holly
    • 1867, “THE WEDDEEN O BALLYMORE”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 6, page 96:
      To our pleoughès an mulk-pylès till a neeshte holy die.
      To our ploughs and our milk-pails till the next holiday.

References

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  • 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
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