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Antonyms for holy
| Grammar : Adj |
| Spell : hoh-lee |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈhoʊ li |
Definition of holy
Origin :- Old English halig "holy, consecrated, sacred, godly," from Proto-Germanic *hailaga- (cf. Old Norse heilagr, Old Frisian helich "holy," Old Saxon helag, Middle Dutch helich, Old High German heilag, German heilig, Gothic hailags "holy"). Adopted at conversion for Latin sanctus.
- Primary (pre-Christian) meaning is not possible to determine, but probably it was "that must be preserved whole or intact, that cannot be transgressed or violated," and connected with Old English hal (see health) and Old High German heil "health, happiness, good luck" (source of the German salutation Heil). Holy water was in Old English. Holy has been used as an intensifying word from 1837; used in expletives since 1880s (e.g. holy smoke, 1883, holy mackerel, 1876, holy cow, 1914, holy moly etc.), most of them euphemisms for holy Christ or holy Moses.
- adj religious, sacred
- In this holy atmosphere we paused for a moment in silent reverence.
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- But the Holy Laws no longer needed the safe shelter of a royal shrine.
- Extract from : « Ancient Man » by Hendrik Willem van Loon
- He was, to the eyes of men, studious and holy as an anchorite.
- Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
- Or I might compare them to cherubs, haunting that holy place.
- Extract from : « Sunday at Home (From "Twice Told Tales") » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Give me the Holy Water, Nora, there's a small sup still on the dresser.
- Extract from : « Riders to the Sea » by J. M. Synge
- "I think you were right about the holy children," she said quietly.
- Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
- The holy possession lasted but a minute or so, and left her dumb.
- Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
- By all that's holy, as a favor to me, spit out the words you have uttered.
- Extract from : « The Dramatic Values in Plautus » by Wilton Wallace Blancke
- May the holy Julian stand by us and the thrice-sainted Christopher!
- Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
- "And bring with him a flask of holy water," added the knight of Bohemia.
- Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
Synonyms for holy
- angelic
- believing
- blessed
- chaste
- clean
- consecrated
- dedicated
- devoted
- devotional
- devout
- divine
- faithful
- faultless
- glorified
- god-fearing
- godlike
- godly
- good
- hallowed
- humble
- immaculate
- innocent
- just
- messianic
- moral
- perfect
- pietistic
- pious
- prayerful
- pure
- revered
- reverent
- righteous
- sacrosanct
- sainted
- saintlike
- saintly
- sanctified
- seraphic
- spiritual
- spotless
- sublime
- uncorrupt
- undefiled
- untainted
- unworldly
- upright
- venerable
- venerated
- virtuous
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019