holy

ho-ly · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose.

  2. 2.

    Morally and spiritually excellent; saintly.

  3. 3.

    Regarded with or deserving special reverence.

  4. 4.

    (informal) Used for emphasis in exclamations.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    Holy Grail — an object of a long or difficult quest
  • •
    holier than thou — self-righteously pious
  • •
    holy cow/smoke/moly — exclamations of surprise
  • •
    holy war — a war fought for religious purposes
  • •
    Holy Spirit — the third person of the Christian Trinity

Related words

Antonyms: profane, secular, unholy
See also: blessed, divine, religious, sacred
Synonyms: blessed, consecrated, divine, sacred

Etymology

From Old English "hālig" (holy, consecrated, sacred), from Proto-Germanic "hailagaz" (holy, sacred), from "hailaz" (whole, healthy). The connection between "whole/healthy" and "holy" suggests an original meaning of spiritual wholeness or purity. Cognate with German "heilig" and Dutch "heilig."