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Holy vs Holily - What's the difference?

holy | holily |

As an adjective holy

is dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.

As a noun holy

is a thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in {{term|Holy of Holies}}.

As an adverb holily is

in a holy way; with sanctity.

holy

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.
    • I'm planning to visit the holy city of Mecca this Ramadan.
  • Revered in a religion.
  • Perfect or flawless.
  • 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.
    • Holy cow, I can’t believe he actually lost the race!

    Synonyms

    * (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god) sacred * (revered in a religion) sacred * faultless, flawless, perfect * (separated or set apart from something) sanctified * (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose) reserved, special

    Antonyms

    * (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god) * (revered in a religion) profane, secular, unholy, worldly * damaged, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect * (separated or set apart from something) * (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose) common

    Derived terms

    * holiest of holies * holiness * holy cats * holy cow * holy crap * Holy Ghost * Holy Grail * Holy of Holies * holy mackerel * holy moly, holy moley * holy Moses * holy mother of God * Holy See * holy shit * holy smoke * holy snakes * Holy Spirit * holy Toledo * Holy Trinity * holy war * holy water * Holy Week

    Noun

    (holies)
  • (archaic) A thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in (Holy of Holies).
  • * Franz von Reber, Joseph Thacher Clarke, History of Ancient Art (1882) p. 146:
    • The holy of holies, a cubical space of ten cubits on the side, was separated from the larger antechamber by four columns, which were also covered with gold and stood upon silver sockets; they bore a second curtain of four colors.

    Derived terms

    * holiest of holies * Holy of Holies

    holily

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a holy way; with sanctity.
  • * Henry Wharton
  • * Bishop Joseph Hall
    • there are some dispositions blame-worthy in men, which are yet, in a right sense, holily ascribed unto God; as unchangeableness, and irrepentance.
  • * 2010 , "An own goal on gay rights", The Economist , 14 Oct 2010:
    • The other [problem] is that, like Macbeth, what the president wants highly he also wants holily .