homily
UK[ˈhɒm.ɪ.li]US[ˈhɑː.mə.li]
n
A sermon or speech giving moral advice, especially one that is long and dull.
n
A tedious moralizing lecture or piece of advice.
Morpheme Breakdown
homil
y
homil
discourse
y
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'homily' originates from the Greek homilia, meaning 'assembly' or 'conversation'. This term itself derives from homilos, 'crowd' or 'throng', which is related to homou, 'together'. In early Christian Greek, homilia was adopted to signify a scriptural discourse or informal sermon delivered to a congregation, emphasizing communal instruction rather than formal oratory. Through ecclesiastical Latin homilia, the term entered English, gradually shifting from its neutral sense of a religious discourse to acquire its modern, often pejorative connotation of a tedious, moralizing lecture, reflecting a change in the perceived nature of such speeches.
Analysis
Structure: homil (discourse) + y (noun suffix)
- homil: From Greek homilia, meaning 'assembly, conversation, discourse'.
- y: A noun-forming suffix of Greek origin, often via Latin, indicating a state, quality, or action.
Examples
The priest delivered a brief homily on the importance of compassion.
After my mistake, I had to endure a long homily from my father about responsibility.
The article was less an analysis and more a political homily.