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Homily

 - 3 dictionary results

hom⋅i⋅ly

  [hom-uh-lee]
Use Homily in a Sentence
–noun, plural -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.
Origin:
1545–55; < LL homīlia < Gk homīlía assembly, sermon, equiv. to hómīl(os) crowd (hom(oû) together + -īlos, masc. comb. form of lē (fem.) crowd) + -ia -y 3 ; r. ME omelie < MF < L, as above
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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hom·i·ly   (hŏm'ə-lē)   
n.   pl. hom·i·lies

  1. A sermon, especially one intended to edify a congregation on a practical matter and not intended to be a theological discourse.

  2. A tedious moralizing lecture or admonition.

  3. An inspirational saying or platitude.


[Middle English omelie, from Old French, from Late Latin homīlia, from Greek homīliā, discourse, from homīlos, crowd; see sem-1 in Indo-European roots.]
hom'i·list n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

homily 
c.1386, from O.Fr. omelie (12c.), from Church L. homilia "a homily, sermon," from Gk. homilia "conversation, discourse," used in N.T. Gk. for "sermon," from homilos "a crowd," from homou "together" + ile "troop" (cognate with Skt. melah "assembly," L. miles "soldier"). Hence homiletic, from Gk. homiletikos "of conversation, affable," from homelein "associate with," from homilos.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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