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holy water

American  

noun

  1. water blessed by a priest.


holy water British  

noun

  1. water that has been blessed by a priest for use in symbolic rituals of purification

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of holy water

before 900; Middle English haliwater, Old English hāligwæter

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This history of the vending machine can be traced, in some form or another, to first-century Egypt, where, legend has it, the first vending machine–type contraption gave out holy water in exchange for a coin.

From Slate • Feb. 1, 2025

Photographs released by the temple board showed priests sprinkling holy water in the kitchen, on sacks of ingredients and on huge trays of laddus.

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2024

Each volador takes a turn walking around the tree with the incense and flowers, and sprinkling it with holy water and aguardiente.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2023

The holy water is in a Styrofoam cup.

From New York Times • Nov. 9, 2023

Flying Priest bombarded demons with holy water that ate holes in their scaly hides.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

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