Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HOL'LOW-ROOT, n.

A plant, tuberous moschatel, or inglorious, constituting the genus Adoxa; a low plant, whose leaves and flowers smell like musk; hence it is sometimes called musk-crowfoot. Encyc.

HOLLY, n. [Sax. holegn; D. hulst; perhaps L. ilex, for hilex. In Welsh, the corresponding word is celyn, from the root of celu, to conceal, L. celo. The ilex in Sw. is called iron oak.]

The holm tree, of the genus Ilex, of several species. The common holly grows from 20 to 30 feet high; the stem by age becomes large, and is covered with a grayish smooth bark, and set with branches which form a sort of cone. The leaves are oblong oval, of a lucid green on the upper surface, but pale on the under surface; the edges are indented and waved, with sharp thorns terminating each of the points. The flowers grow in clusters and are succeeded by roundish berries, which turn to a beautiful red about Michaelmas. This tree is a beautiful evergreen. Encyc. Knee-Holly, a plant, the butcher's broom, of the genus Ruscus. Sea-Holly, a plant, of the genus Eryngium.

HOL'LY-HOCK, n. [Sax. holihoc.]

A plant of the genus Althæa, bearing flowers of various colors. It is called also rose-mallow.

HOL'LY-ROSE, n.

A plant. Tate.

HOLM, n.

1. The evergreen oak; the ilex.
2. An islet, or river isle.
3. A low flat tract of rich land on the banks of a river. Cyc.

HOLM'ITE, n.

A variety of carbonate of lime; so called from Mr. Holme, who analyzed it. Cleaveland.

HOL'O-CAUST, n. [Gr. ολος, whole, and καυστος, burnt, from καιω, to burn.]

A burnt-sacrifice or offering, the whole of which was consumed by fire; a species of sacrifice in use among the Jews and some pagan nations. Ray. Encyc.

HOL'O-GRAPH, n. [Gr. ολος, whole, and γραφω, to write.]

A deed or testament written wholly by the grantor's or testator's own hand. Encyc.

HOL-O-GRAPH'IC, a.

Written wholly by the grantor or testator himself.

HO-LOM'E-TER, n. [Gr. ολος, all, and μετρεω, to measure.]

An instrument for taking all kinds of measures, both on the earth and in the heavens; a pantometer. Cyc.

HOLP, or HOLP'EN, v. [the antiquated pret. and pp. of help.]

HOL'STER, n. [Sax. heolster, a hiding place or recess; Port. coldre; from holding, or concealing, L. celo, Sax. helan.]

A leathern case for a pistol, carried by a horseman at the fore part of his saddle.

HOL'STER-ED, a.

Bearing holsters; as, a holstered steed. Byron.

HOLT, n. [Sax. holt, Ir. coillte, W. cellt, a wood, from the root of Sax. helan, L. celo, W. celu, to hide, to keep close; a word retained in names.]

A wood or woodland: obsolete, except in poetry. Drayton. Browne.

HO'LY, a. [Sax. halig; G. and D. heilig; Sw. helig; Dan. hellig; from the root of heal, hold, whole, and all; Sax. hal, G. heil, D. heel, Sw. hel, Dan. heel, whole. See Heal and Hold, and Class Gl, No. 31, 35, 42. The sense is whole, entire, complete, sound, unimpaired.]

1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly. Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Pet. i.
2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as, the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.
3. Proceeding from pious principles, or directed to pious purposes; as, holy zeal.
4. Perfectly just and good; as, the holy law of God.
5. Sacred; as, a holy witness. Shak. Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and where no person entered, except the high-priest once a year. Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls. Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by Christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried in a most unholy manner.

HO'LY-CROSS-DAY, n. [HO'LY-CROSS DAY.]

The fourteenth of September.

HOL'Y-DAY, a.

Pertaining to a festival; as, a holyday suit of clothes.

HOL'Y-DAY, n. [See Holiday.]

1. A day set apart for commemorating some important event in history; a festival intended to celebrate some event deemed auspicious to the welfare of a nation; particularly an anniversary festival, devoted to religious solemnities; as, Christmas holydays.
2. A day of joy and gayety. Shak.
3. A day of exemption from labor; a day of amusement. Chesterfield.

HO'LY-ONE, n.

1. An appellation of the Supreme Being, by way of emphasis.
2. An appellation of Christ. Is. xliii.
3. One separated to the service of God. Deut. xxxiii.

HO'LY-ROOD-DAY, n. [HO'LY-ROOD DAY.]

A festival observed by Romanists in memory of the exaltation of our Savior's cross. Encyc.

HO'LY-STONE, n.

A stone used by seamen for cleaning the decks of ships; so called in derision, it is said, from the dislike of seamen to use it. Cox.

HO'LY-THIS-TLE, n.

A plant of the genus Centaurea. The blessed thistle, Centauren benedicta. Cyc.

HO'LY-THURS-DAY, n.

The day on which the ascension of our Savior is commemorated, ten days before Whitsuntide. Johnson.

HO'LY-WEEK, n.

The week before Easter, in which the passion of our Savior is commemorated. Johnson.

HO'LY-WRIT, n.

The sacred Scriptures.