holy

/ˈhoʊli/

/ˈhʌʊli/

Other forms: holiest; holier; holies; holily

Something that is sacred can be described as holy, like the Holy Bible. So can anything associated with God, like a holy day that is observed by attending worship ceremonies.

The adjective holy comes from the Old English word hālig and is related to the German word heilig, meaning “blessed.” There is a relationship between holy and whole, and the religious sense probably developed from keeping believers spiritually whole — and pure. A place, object, or person who has been blessed can be described as holy, meaning "associated with God."

Definitions of holy

1. adjective

   belonging to or derived from or associated with a divine power
   synonyms:

   consecrate, consecrated, dedicated

   solemnly dedicated to or set apart for a high purpose

   beatified, blessed

   Roman Catholic; proclaimed one of the blessed and thus worthy of veneration

   Blessed

   worthy of worship

   consecrated, sacred, sanctified

   made, declared, or believed to be holy; devoted to a deity or some religious ceremony or use

   hallowed, sacred

   worthy of religious veneration

   sacred

   concerned with religion or religious purposes

   antonyms:

   unholy

   not hallowed or consecrated

   profane, unconsecrated, unsanctified

   not holy because unconsecrated or impure or defiled
2. noun

   a sacred place of pilgrimage
   synonyms: holy place, sanctum

   type of:

   place, spot, topographic point

   a point located with respect to surface features of some region