The word "holiness" is spelled with the combination of the letters H, O, L, I, N, E, and S. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /ˈhoʊlinəs/. The first syllable starts with the vowel sound /oʊ/, which is followed by the consonant sound /l/. The second syllable starts with the vowel sound /ɪ/, followed by the consonant sound /n/. The third syllable ends with the consonant sound /s/. This word refers to the quality of being holy or sacred, often used in religious contexts.
Holiness is a state or quality of being morally pure, righteous, and dedicated to a higher spiritual or divine purpose. It is a virtue that encompasses a sense of absolute perfection and transcendence, often associated with a deep connection to religious, ethical, or moral principles.
In religious contexts, holiness refers to a sacredness that distinguishes a person, object, or place as being set apart and dedicated to the service of God or a divine power. It implies an unblemished and untainted state, free from sin or impurity. Those who pursue holiness strive to adhere to a code of conduct or set of religious teachings aimed at achieving spiritual perfection and union with the divine.
Holiness is often characterized by adherence to moral principles, which guide one's thoughts, actions, and relationships. It entails living a life of integrity and righteousness, with a focus on promoting love, compassion, justice, and forgiveness. Holiness is often accompanied by a transformative journey of self-reflection, repentance, and self-discipline to overcome personal shortcomings and become more godly.
The pursuit of holiness is multi-faceted and can involve various practices such as prayer, meditation, worship, selflessness, and acts of service. It is a continuous process that involves personal growth and development, as individuals strive to align their lives with moral and spiritual ideals.
Ultimately, holiness is the conscious and intentional commitment to live a life that is set apart, pure, and wholeheartedly dedicated to the divine and to the betterment of oneself and others.
• Freedom from sin; moral goodness; piety; purity; sacredness; a title of the Pope.
• State or quality of being holy; freedom from sin.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "holiness" originated from the Old English word "hālignes", which derived from the Middle English word "holynesse". This Middle English term itself came from "holi", meaning "holy" in Old English, combined with the suffix "-nesse" indicating a state or condition. The Old English word "hālig" ultimately traces back to the Proto-Germanic word "*hailaga-", which signifies "holy" or "sacred". The Proto-Germanic term was formed from the Proto-Indo-European word "*kailo-", meaning "whole" or "uninjured". Thus, the etymology of "holiness" highlights its connection to the concept of being holy, sacred, or whole.