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

Derived Forms

• ˈhomilist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of homily¹

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 -y ³; replacing Middle English omelie < Middle French < Latin, as above

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

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.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lecture