ho|ly

ho|ly «HOH lee», adjective, -li|er, -li|est, noun, plural -lies.

–adj.

1. given or belonging to God; set apart for God's service; coming from God; sacred: »

the Holy Bible, Holy Communion.

2. declared sacred by religious use and authority; consecrated: »

a holy day. Holy oil is used by some churches in baptism and other rites.

3. dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion: »

a holy life.

4. like a saint; spiritually perfect; very good; pure in heart: »

a holy man. As He died to make men holy... (Julia Ward Howe).

SYNONYM(S): devout, pious, pure, saintly, sinless.

5. Figurative. worthy of reverence: »

The grave of the unknown soldier is a holy place.

6. Informal, Figurative. awesome; awful; terrible: »

Those children are holy terrors.

–n.

1. a holy place; sanctuary.

2. a holy thing.

3. a holy person.

╂[Old English hālig]

Synonym Study adjective.1, 2 Holy, sacred mean set apart for worship or reverence. Holy implies an inherent quality that makes someone or something worthy of worship: »

God is holy. Jerusalem and Mecca are Holy Cities.

Sacred implies a quality given by dedicating or consecrating something to religious uses, making it worthy of reverence: »

Churches are sacred. The Bible, Talmud, and Qur'an are sacred writings.