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Webster 1913 Edition


Homily

Hom′i-ly

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Homilies
(#)
.
[LL.
homilia
, Gr. [GREEK] communion, assembly, converse, sermon, fr. [GREEK] an assembly, fr. [GREEK] same; cf. [GREEK] together, and [GREEK] crowd, cf. [GREEK] to press: cf. F.
homélie
. See
Same
.]
1.
A discourse or sermon read or pronounced to an audience; a serious discourse.
Shak.
2.
A serious or tedious exhortation in private on some moral point, or on the conduct of life.
As I have heard my father
Deal out in his long
homilies
.
Byron.
Book of Homilies
.
A collection of authorized, printed sermons, to be read by ministers in churches, esp. one issued in the time of Edward VI., and a second, issued in the reign of Elizabeth; – both books being certified to contain a “godly and wholesome doctrine.”

Webster 1828 Edition


Homily

HOM'ILY

,
Noun.
[Gr. to converse in company, a company or assembly.]
A discourse or sermon read or pronounced to an audience; or a plain, familiar discourse on some subject of religion, such as an instructor would deliver to his pupils, or a father to his children.

Definition 2024


homily

homily

English

Noun

homily (plural homilies)

  1. A sermon, especially concerning a practical matter.
    • (Can we date this quote?), Shakespeare, (Please provide the title of the work):
      O most gentle Jupiter! What tedious homily of love have / you wearied your parishioners withal, and never cried 'Have / patience, good people.'
  2. A moralizing lecture.
    • Byron
      As I have heard my father / Deal out in his long homilies.
  3. A platitude.

Translations