n.
Pronunciation: ' h ō -l ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: ho · li · er ; -est
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English h ā lig; akin to Old English h ā l whole ― more at WHOLE
Date: before 12th century
1 : exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness
2 : DIVINE <for the Lord our God is holy ― Ps 99:9(AV)>
3 : devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity <a holy temple> < holy prophets>
4 a : having a divine quality < holy love> b : venerated as or as if sacred < holy scripture> <a holy relic>
5 ― used as an intensive <this is a holy mess> <he was a holy terror when he drank ― Thomas Wolfe> ― often used in combination as a mild oath < holy smoke>
– ho · li · ly \ -l ə -l ē \ adverb