I. ˈhōlē, -li adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English holy, hooly, haly, from Old English hālig; akin to Old High German heilag holy, Old Norse heilagr, Gothic hailags, Old English hāl whole — more at whole
1.
a. : set apart and dedicated to the service or worship of God or a god : hallowed , sacred
holy vessels
the holy priesthood
b. : dedicated to or laying claim to being dedicated to a sacred or selfless purpose
gave money to various holy causes
2.
a.
(1) : perfect in righteousness and divine love : infinitely good : worthy of complete devotion and trust : commanding one's fullest powers of adoration and reverence
the holy Lord God Almighty
(2) : of or befitting something that is perfect or worthy in his way
a smile of holy sweetness — George Meredith
b. : spiritually whole, sound, or perfect : of unimpaired innocence or proved virtue : pure in heart : godly , pious — often used in mild oaths
my holy aunt
3.
a. : venerated because of association with someone or something holy
holy relics
the holy cross
b. of a saint or saintly person : worthy of veneration
holy martyrs
c. : to be treated with veneration or the utmost respect
to him every action of the campaign was holy
d. : being awesome, frightening, or beyond belief
the child was a holy terror
so frightened he had the holy horrors
4. : not capable of being approached with impunity : filled with mysterious, superhuman, and potentially fatal power : dangerously powerful if violated
some words are considered so holy they must never be spoken aloud — Stuart Chase
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English holi, adjective, from Old English
1.
[translation of Late Latin sanctus ]
: a holy place : sanctuary
2. obsolete : saint
3. capitalized : god II 1
into the presence of the Holy