Halidom

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhælɪdÉ™m/

Alternative forms

• halidome
• halidame, holidame erroneous

Origin

From Middle English halidom, haliȝdom, from Old English hāliġdōm ("holiness, righteousness, sanctity; holy place, sanctuary, chapel; relics, holy things; holy office; sacrament; holy doctrines"), corresponding to holy + -dom. Cognate with Dutch heiligdom ("sanctuary, shrine"), German Heiligtum ("sanctuary, shrine, holy relic"), Swedish helgedom ("shrine, sanctuary, temple, sanctum"), Icelandic helgidómur ("sanctuary, holy relic").

Full definition of halidom

Noun

1. (obsolete) Holiness; sanctity; sacred honour.
• 1987 , Poul and Karen Anderson , The King of Ys Chapter , Now he's put the final seal on his Kingship, his halidom, by slaying a challenger in the Wood.
2. (archaic) A sanctuary; lands held of a religious foundation.
• 1983 , Poul Anderson , Time Patrolman Chapter , … save for Wodan, who had a richly bedecked halidom nearby.
3. (archaic) Something regarded as sacred; a holy relic.
• 1819: “By my halidom,” said he, “we have forgotten, Sir Prior, to name the fair Sovereign of Love and of Beauty, by whose white hand the palm is to be distributed.” — Walter Scott, Ivanhoe