[hom.i.ly] n, pl -lies [ME omelie, fr. MF, fr. LL homilia, fr. LGk, fr. Gk, conversation, discourse, fr. homilein to consort with, address, fr. homilos crowd, assembly; akin to Gk homos same--more at same] (14c) 1: a usu. short sermon
2: a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme
3: an inspirational catchphrase; also: platitude