YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

homily

Noun

IPA /ˈhɒməli/

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Meaning in plain English

A speech or piece of writing that gives moral advice, sometimes in a tiresome way.

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Pronunciation

homily/ˈhɒməli/

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A speaker offers moral advice
The message teaches a lesson about conduct

A homily offers moral guidance, sometimes more than the listener wants.

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What began as a chat became a homily on the value of hard work.
The class discussed the moral message in the speaker's homily.

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What began as a chat became a ________ on the value of hard work.

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homily — A speech or piece of writing that gives moral advice, sometimes in a tiresome way.

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A speech or piece of writing that gives moral advice, sometimes in a tiresome way.

Compare: What began as a chat became a homily on the value of hard work.

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Word origin

Ultimately from Greek homilia, meaning discourse or conversation.

Did you know?

A homily on a subject identifies the lesson or moral being offered.

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