holy adj , holier, holiest
1 of, relating to, or associated with God or a deity; sacred
2 endowed or invested with extreme purity or sublimity
3 devout, godly, or virtuous
4 ♦
holier-than-thou offensively sanctimonious or self-righteous
a holier-than-thou attitude
a a difficult or frightening person
b (Irish)
informal a person who is an active gambler, womanizer, etc. n pl , -lies
b ♦
the holy persons or things invested with holiness
(Old English halig, hælig; related to Old Saxon helag, Gothic hailags, German heilig; see hallow)
Holy Alliance n
1 a document advocating government according to Christian principles that was signed in 1815 by the rulers of Russia, Prussia, and Austria
2 the informal alliance that resulted from this agreement
Holy Bible n another name for the →
Bible
Holy City n
♦
the
1 Jerusalem, esp. when regarded as the focal point of the religions of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam
2 (Christianity) heaven regarded as the perfect counterpart of Jerusalem
3 any city regarded as especially sacred by a particular religion
Holy Communion n
1 the celebration of the Eucharist
2 the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, (Often shortened to)
Communion
holy day n
a day on which a religious festival is observed
holy day of obligation n
a major feastday of the Roman Catholic Church on which Catholics are bound to attend Mass and refrain from servile work
Holy Family n
♦
the (Christianity) the infant Jesus, Mary, and St Joseph
Holy Father n
(R.C. Church) a title of the pope
Holy Ghost n another name for the →
Holy Spirit
Holy Grail n
1 (Also called)
Grail, Sangraal (in medieval legend) the bowl used by Jesus at the Last Supper. It was allegedly brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea, where it became the quest of many knights
2 Informal any desired ambition or goal
the Holy Grail of infrared astronomy
(C14 grail from Old French graal, from Medieval Latin gradalis bowl, of unknown origin)
Holy Hour n
1 (R.C. Church) an hour set aside for prayer and reflection
2 (Irish)
informal a period during the afternoon when public houses are obliged to close by law
Holy Innocents' Day n
Dec. 28, a day commemorating the massacre of male children at Bethlehem by Herod's order (Matthew 2:16); Childermas
Holy Island n
1 an island off the NE coast of Northumberland, linked to the mainland by road but accessible only at low water: site of a monastery founded by St Aidan in 635, (Also called)
Lindisfarne
2 an island off the NW coast of Anglesey. Area: about 62 sq. km (24 sq. miles)
Holy Joe n
Informal
2 any sanctimonious or self-righteous person
Holy Land n the. another name for →
Palestine →
1
holy Mary n (Irish) a pietistic person
he's a real holy Mary
Holy Office n
(R.C. Church) a congregation established in 1542 as the final court of appeal in heresy trials; it now deals with matters of doctrine
holy of holies n
1 any place of special sanctity
2 the innermost compartment of the Jewish tabernacle, and later of the Temple, where the Ark was enshrined
holy orders pl n
1 the sacrament or rite whereby a person is admitted to the Christian ministry
2 the grades of the Christian ministry
3 the rank or status of an ordained Christian minister, (See also)
→
orders
