holy: [OE] Holy originated as a derivative of the prehistoric Germanic adjective which produced modern English whole, and so its etymological meaning is perhaps ‘unimpaired, inviolate’. This ancestral form was *khailagaz, which diversified into German and Dutch heilig, Swedish helig, and Danish hellig as well as English holy. Hallow is essentially the same word, and compounds with holy as a now hidden component include hollyhock [13] as well as holiday. => hallow, holiday
holy (adj.)
Old English halig "holy, consecrated, sacred, godly," from Proto-Germanic *hailaga- (cognates: Old Norse heilagr, Old Frisian helich "holy," Old Saxon helag, Middle Dutch helich, Old High German heilag, German heilig, Gothic hailags "holy"). Adopted at conversion for Latin sanctus.
Primary (pre-Christian) meaning is not possible to determine, but probably it was "that must be preserved whole or intact, that cannot be transgressed or violated," and connected with Old English hal (see health) and Old High German heil "health, happiness, good luck" (source of the German salutation Heil). Holy water was in Old English. Holy has been used as an intensifying word from 1837; used in expletives since 1880s (such as holy smoke, 1883, holy mackerel, 1876, holy cow, 1914, holy moly etc.), most of them euphemisms for holy Christ or holy Moses.
雙語例句
1. The discovery is being hailed as The Holy Grail of astronomy.
這一發(fā)現圓了天文學界的一個夢想。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Every year they put a play on at Saint Holy Cross Church.
他們每年在圣十字教堂上演一出劇目。
來自柯林斯例句
3. At the festival, candles are blessed and sprinkled with holy water.
在節(jié)日里，要對蠟燭祝圣，并灑以圣水。
來自柯林斯例句
4. "Holy Mother of God!" Marco crossed himself.
“圣母??！”馬爾科畫著十字說道。
來自柯林斯例句
5. To desecrate a holy spring is considered profanity.