HOLY OF HOLIES

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does holy of holies mean? 

• HOLY OF HOLIES (noun)
  The noun HOLY OF HOLIES has 2 senses:

1. (figurative) something regarded as sacred or inviolable

2. (Judaism) sanctuary comprised of the innermost chamber of the Tabernacle in the temple of Solomon where the Ark of the Covenant was kept

  Familiarity information: HOLY OF HOLIES used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOLY OF HOLIES (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(figurative) something regarded as sacred or inviolable

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

every politician fears to touch that holy of holies, the Social Security System

Hypernyms ("holy of holies" is a kind of...):

sacredness (the quality of being sacred)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(Judaism) sanctuary comprised of the innermost chamber of the Tabernacle in the temple of Solomon where the Ark of the Covenant was kept

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

holy of holies; sanctum sanctorum

Hypernyms ("holy of holies" is a kind of...):

sanctuary (a consecrated place where sacred objects are kept)

Domain category:

Judaism (the monotheistic religion of the Jews having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud)

Holonyms ("holy of holies" is a part of...):

Tabernacle ((Judaism) a portable sanctuary in which the Jews carried the Ark of the Covenant on their exodus)

 Context examples 

It seemed to him that he had intruded upon the holy of holies, and slowly and carefully he moved his head aside from the contact which thrilled him like an electric shock and of which she had not been aware.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)