Holy Grail

Holy Grail
Holy Ho"ly, a. [Compar. {Holier}; superl. {Holiest}.] [OE. holi, hali, AS. h[=a]lig, fr. h[ae]l health, salvation, happiness, fr. h[=a]l whole, well; akin to OS. h?lag, D. & G. heilig, OHG. heilac, Dan. hellig, Sw. helig, Icel. heilagr. See {Whole}, and cf. {Halibut}, {Halidom}, {Hallow}, {Hollyhock}.] 1. Set apart to the service or worship of God; hallowed; sacred; reserved from profane or common use; holy vessels; a holy priesthood. ``Holy rites and solemn feasts.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Spiritually whole or sound; of unimpaired innocence and virtue; free from sinful affections; pure in heart; godly; pious; irreproachable; guiltless; acceptable to God. [1913 Webster]

Now through her round of holy thought The Church our annual steps has brought. --Keble. [1913 Webster]

{Holy Alliance} (Hist.), a league ostensibly for conserving religion, justice, and peace in Europe, but really for repressing popular tendencies toward constitutional government, entered into by Alexander I. of Russia, Francis I. of Austria, and Frederic William III. of Prussia, at Paris, on the 26th of September, 1815, and subsequently joined by all the sovereigns of Europe, except the pope and the king of England.

{Holy bark}. See {Cascara sagrada}.

{Holy Communion}. See {Eucharist}.

{Holy family} (Art), a picture in which the infant Christ, his parents, and others of his family are represented.

{Holy Father}, a title of the pope.

{Holy Ghost} (Theol.), the third person of the Trinity; the Comforter; the Paraclete.

{Holy Grail}. See {Grail}.

{Holy grass} (Bot.), a sweet-scented grass ({Hierochloa borealis} and {Hierochloa alpina}). In the north of Europe it was formerly strewed before church doors on saints' days; whence the name. It is common in the northern and western parts of the United States. Called also {vanilla grass} or {Seneca grass}.

{Holy Innocents' day}, Childermas day.

{Holy Land}, Palestine, the birthplace of Christianity.

{Holy office}, the Inquisition.

{Holy of holies} (Script.), the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and where no person entered, except the high priest once a year.

{Holy One}. (a) The Supreme Being; -- so called by way of emphasis. `` The Holy One of Israel.'' --Is. xliii. 14. (b) One separated to the service of God.

{Holy orders}. See {Order}.

{Holy rood}, the cross or crucifix, particularly one placed, in churches. over the entrance to the chancel.

{Holy rope}, a plant, the hemp agrimony.

{Holy Saturday} (Eccl.), the Saturday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; the vigil of Easter.

{Holy Spirit}, same as {Holy Ghost} (above).

{Holy Spirit plant}. See {Dove plant}.

{Holy thistle} (Bot.), the blessed thistle. See under {Thistle}.

{Holy Thursday}. (Eccl.) (a) (Episcopal Ch.) Ascension day. (b) (R. C. Ch.) The Thursday in Holy Week; Maundy Thursday.

{Holy war}, a crusade; an expedition carried on by Christians against the Saracens in the Holy Land, in the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries, for the possession of the holy places.

{Holy water} (Gr. & R. C. Churches), water which has been blessed by the priest for sacred purposes.

{Holy-water stoup}, the stone stoup or font placed near the entrance of a church, as a receptacle for holy water.

{Holy Week} (Eccl.), the week before Easter, in which the passion of our Savior is commemorated.

{Holy writ}, the sacred Scriptures. `` Word of holy writ.'' --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Holy Grail — Álbum de estudio de Versailles Publicación 15 de junio de 2011 Grabación Warner Music Recording Studio Studio Fine Género(s) Metal sinfónico Power metal …   Wikipedia Español

  • Holy Grail — Grail Grail, n. [OF. graal, greal, greet, F. graal, gr[ e]al, LL. gradalis, gradale, prob. derived fr. L. crater bowl, mixing vessel, Gr. krath r. See {Crater.}] A broad, open dish; a chalice; only used of the {Holy Grail}. [1913 Webster] Note:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Holy Grail — n 1.) [singular] something that people want very much, but which is very difficult or impossible to achieve Holy Grail of ▪ Nuclear fusion is the Holy Grail of energy production. 2.) the Holy Grail the cup believed to have been used by Christ… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • holy grail — In Arthurian legend the holy grail, the cup from which Christ is said to have drunk at the Last Supper, is the object of long quests by dedicated knights. In allusive use it should stand for something of great value that is sought with great… …   Modern English usage

  • Holy Grail — grail. Also, holy grail. [1580 90] * * * …   Universalium

  • Holy Grail — n. 1. GRAIL (sense 1) 2. [often h g ] any ultimate, but elusive, goal pursued as in a quest …   English World dictionary

  • Holy Grail — Allgemeine Informat …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Holy Grail — According to Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers. The connection of Joseph of Arimathea with the Grail legend dates from Robert de Boron s Joseph d… …   Wikipedia

  • Holy Grail —    The concept of the Holy Grail is intimately associated with the world of courtly culture, chivalry, and Christianity.While it may have its origins in Celtic mythology, the earliest references to the Grail can be found in medieval Latin… …   Encyclopedia of medieval literature

  • Holy Grail — noun (legend) chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper • Syn: ↑grail, ↑Sangraal • Topics: ↑legend, ↑fable • Instance Hypernyms: ↑chalice, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”