holy

"Holy" is a word full of reverence. It describes something connected with God, religion, or a sacred power. At its heart, it suggests that something has been set apart from ordinary life and should be treated with deep respect. Historically, "holy" comes from the Old English hālig, meaning "sacred."

We often use "holy" for places, objects, times, and people in religious life: holy cities such as Mecca or Jerusalem, holy books such as the Bible or the Quran, holy days, holy water, and holy men or women. In these uses, the word points to spiritual importance, purity, or closeness to God.

The word also appears in many fixed expressions. "Holy Communion" names an important Christian sacrament. "Holy matrimony" is a traditional phrase for marriage. "The Holy Land" refers to places with deep religious meaning. The phrase "holy grail" has also grown beyond religion and now often means an ultimate goal or a thing that people seek with great hope.

It is also common in exclamations such as "Holy cow!" or "Holy smokes!," where it expresses surprise rather than literal religious meaning. In some informal phrases, it works as an intensifier: "a holy terror" describes someone, often a child, who is extremely difficult or wild.

So whether it refers to a sacred place, a religious object, a devout person, or an exclamation of surprise, "holy" usually carries the idea of something set apart, deeply respected, or touched by the divine.