homily
[hom-uh-lee]
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
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for homily
Contemporary Examples of homily
Historical Examples of homily
The service was soon done, and then the parson delivered a homily.
A Son of HagarSir Hall Caine
"There is no such intent—" began Rhynsault, who misliked this homily.
The Historical Nights' EntertainmentRafael Sabatini
He broke off his homily to look out of the window of the car.
The Book of All-PowerEdgar Wallace
In short, she looked fit to spoil a homily for Saint Anthony himself.
The Guardian AngelOliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Very greatly, good mother; never heard I before a homily so brave.
Mistress MargeryEmily Sarah Holt
homily
noun plural -lies
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
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