homily

[hom-uh-lee]

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noun, plural hom·i·lies.

a sermon, usually on a Biblical topic and usually of a nondoctrinal nature.

an admonitory or moralizing discourse.

an inspirational saying or cliché.

Origin of homily

1545–55; < Late Latin homīlia < Greek homīlía assembly, sermon, equivalent to hómīl(os) crowd (hom(oû) together + -īlos, masculine combining form of ī́lē (feminine) crowd) + -ia -y³; replacing Middle English omelie < Middle French < Latin, as above

Can be confusedhomely homily

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for homily

lecture, lesson, doctrine

Examples from the Web for homily

Contemporary Examples of homily

He figured on letting the gospel, specifically Matthew 1:28, guide his homily.
11 Children Shot in Milwaukee, One in Her Grandpa's Lap
Michael Daly
November 12, 2014
The question she was asked by the priest during his homily: “What would you like for Christmas?”
‘Resurrection’ Is TV’s Silliest Show and Probably Dead on Arrival
Kevin Fallon
March 7, 2014
During his homily, Pope Francis stressed the importance of service.
Pope Francis Puts a Ring on It: Video of the Inauguration
The Daily Beast Video
March 19, 2013

Historical Examples of homily

The service was soon done, and then the parson delivered a homily.
A Son of Hagar
Sir Hall Caine
"There is no such intent—" began Rhynsault, who misliked this homily.
The Historical Nights' Entertainment
Rafael Sabatini
He broke off his homily to look out of the window of the car.
The Book of All-Power
Edgar Wallace
In short, she looked fit to spoil a homily for Saint Anthony himself.
The Guardian Angel
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Very greatly, good mother; never heard I before a homily so brave.
Mistress Margery
Emily Sarah Holt

British Dictionary definitions for homily

homily

noun plural -lies

a sermon or discourse on a moral or religious topic

moralizing talk or writing

Derived Formshomilist, noun

Word Origin for homily

C14: from Church Latin homīlia, from Greek: discourse, from homilein to converse with, from homilos crowd, from homou together + ilē crowd

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

Word Origin and History for homily

late 14c., omelye, from Old French omelie (12c., Modern French homélie), from Church Latin homilia "a homily, sermon," from Greek homilia "conversation, discourse," used in New Testament Greek for "sermon," from homilos "an assembled crowd," from homou "together" (from PIE *somo-, from root *sem- (1) "one, as one, together with;" see same) + ile "troop" (cognate with Sanskrit melah "assembly," Latin miles "soldier"). Latinate form restored in English 16c.