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View synonyms for homily

homily

[ hom-uh-lee ]

noun

, plural hom·i·lies.
  1. a sermon, usually on a Biblical topic and usually of a nondoctrinal nature.
  2. an admonitory or moralizing discourse.
  3. an inspirational saying or cliché.


homily

/ ˈhɒmɪlɪ /

noun

  1. a sermon or discourse on a moral or religious topic
  2. moralizing talk or writing
“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


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Derived Forms

  • ˈhomilist, noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of homily1

1545–55; < Late Latin homīlia < Greek homīlía assembly, sermon, equivalent to hómīl ( os ) crowd ( hom ( ) together + -īlos, masculine combining form of ī́lē (feminine) crowd) + -ia -y 3; replacing Middle English omelie < Middle French < Latin, as above
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Word History and Origins

Origin of homily1

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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Compare Meanings

How does homily compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

His sermons, unfailingly lucid, penetrating and inspired, went beyond the homily of the day to encompass the news of the world.

From Time

He figured on letting the gospel, specifically Matthew 1:28, guide his homily.

Then on March 23, Romero delivered a truly impassioned homily.

Pope Francis was uncharacteristically ceremonial, sticking largely to his scripted homily and dressed in the usual papal garb.

The question she was asked by the priest during his homily: “What would you like for Christmas?”

Since Wright had no plans to take part in the beachside homily and ticket booths were shuttered, she was out of luck.

He mounts his best ruffles and his finest tunic as he sits down to write his homily.

Such a homily, at such a time, must have made Mary feel like a person of a very ordinary sort indeed.

The story remains, the burden of the rude rhyme of the primer, a text for many a homily of old,—a topic for us now.

Well, I did not expect, when you handed me out of my carriage to-day, that I was going to listen to a homily on prudence.

Smithson Junior (as the homily ends and the real business is about to start): "Please, sir, is it sterilized?"

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homilisthoming