holy

English

/ˈhəʊli/, /ˈhoʊli/

adj
Definitions
  • Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.
  • Revered in a religion.
  • Morally perfect or flawless, or nearly so.
  • Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else).
  • Set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose, or for use by a single entity or person.
  • (slang) Used as an intensifier in various interjections.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English holi inherited from Old English hāliġ (holy) inherited from Proto-Germanic *hailagaz (holy, bringing health, sacred), *hailaz (whole, healthy, sound, hale, safe, entire, omen) derived from Proto-Indo-European *kóh₂ilus (whole, healthy, intact, well-omened) suffix from English whole.

Origin

English

whole

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms