Holliche

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Completely and without any reservation, as an archaic adverb meaning totally ; in a holy, pious or devout manner, as an archaic adverb describing religious conduct
2. Fully, to the whole extent, in an old-fashioned adverbial sense ; righteously and reverently, in the manner of someone devoted to sacred matters
3. Entirely and in every respect, the way something is done when it is thoroughly complete ; devotedly and saintly, showing deep religious faithfulness in conduct

Etymology: Holy and whole come from the same Old English root, "hāl", meaning sound, healthy, or unbroken. The sacred sense of "hālig" split off from the sense of physical completeness, but Middle English kept some of the overlap. "Holliche" could mean both "devoutly and righteously" and "fully and entirely," which is why an adverb that sounds religious can also mean "wholly." Structurally, it is simply "holi" (holy) plus the Middle English adverbial ending "-liche", descended from Old English "-lic" and "-lice", the suffix that turned adjectives into adverbs of manner. The ending later settled into the modern "-ly", so "holily" and "wholly" are its descendants. "Holliche" itself dropped out of use, leaving its two senses to be carried by separate words.

Synonyms: wholly, entirely, completely, fully, thoroughly