The word "wholly" is spelled with a silent "w". Its IPA phonetic transcription is /ˈhoʊli/. The "h" is pronounced, followed by an "o" sound. The "l" is pronounced twice before the final "y". It is a common mistake to spell "wholly" as "holy". However, these two words have different meanings. "Wholly" means entirely or completely, while "holy" means sacred or morally perfect. Therefore, it is important to use the correct spelling in any written context to convey the intended meaning accurately.
Wholly is an adverb that refers to something being complete or entire in every aspect or part, lacking any divisions, exceptions, exclusions, or qualifications. It implies that something is not partial or incomplete, but rather full, absolute, or total.
When used to describe a person, wholly emphasizes that the individual possesses a particular quality or characteristic to an extreme or complete extent. It conveys the notion that their character or behavior is not influenced by any other factors or considerations. For example, if someone is wholly devoted to a cause, they are fully committed and dedicated without reservation or wavering.
Wholly can also be used to describe actions, tasks, or endeavors. In this context, it suggests that the action or task is done completely or entirely, without any omissions or exceptions. For instance, if someone is wholly responsible for a project, they bear full accountability for its completion.
Furthermore, wholly can indicate that a statement or idea is entirely true with no exceptions or addendums. It underscores the thoroughness and completeness of the statement, emphasizing its accuracy and reliability.
In summary, wholly signifies completeness, entirety, or extreme dedication, characterizing something that is not diminished, incomplete, divided, or influenced by outside factors, be it a person, action, responsibility, or statement.
Entirely; completely; in all the parts or kinds.
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 "wholly" originated from the Old English word "halig" which meant "whole" or "complete". This word further evolved into "holi" in Middle English, and eventually developed into "wholly" by the 14th century. The term has retained its meaning of "completely" or "entirely" throughout its history.