Wiktionary

holy

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

EnglishEdit

Alternative formsEdit

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

EtymologyEdit

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.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

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.
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  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!

SynonymsEdit

AntonymsEdit

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

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

InterjectionEdit

holy

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

Usage notesEdit

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

NounEdit

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 termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

AnagramsEdit

Middle EnglishEdit

Etymology 1Edit

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

Alternative formsEdit

AdjectiveEdit

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 termsEdit
DescendantsEdit
  • English: holy
  • Scots: haly, halie
  • Yola: holly, holy

NounEdit

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 termsEdit
DescendantsEdit

ReferencesEdit

Etymology 2Edit

From hol +‎ -y.

Alternative formsEdit

AdjectiveEdit

holy

  1. Full of holes or cavities; porous, spongy; hollow.
Derived termsEdit
DescendantsEdit

ReferencesEdit

YolaEdit

AdjectiveEdit

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.

ReferencesEdit

  • 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
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