1 homiletic | Definition of homiletic
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homiletic

adjective
hom·​i·​let·​ic | \ ËŒhä-mÉ™-ˈle-tik How to pronounce homiletic (audio) \
variants: or homiletical \ ËŒhä-​mÉ™-​ˈle-​ti-​kÉ™l How to pronounce homiletical (audio) \

Definition of homiletic

1 : of, relating to, or resembling a homily
2 : of or relating to homiletics also : preachy
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about homiletic

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Did You Know?

Homiletic came to us by way of Latin from Greek homilētikos, meaning "affable" or "social." "Homilētikos" came from homilein, meaning "to talk with," "to address," or "to make a speech," which in turn came from "homilos," the Greek word for "crowd" or "assembly." "Homilos" and "homilein" also gave English, by way of Latin homilia and French omelie, the word homily, which is used for a short sermon, a lecture on a moral theme, and for an inspirational catchphrase or platitude. Like "homily," the English word homiletic focuses on the morally instructive nature of a discourse. "Homiletic" can also be used derogatorily in the sense of "preachy."

Examples of homiletic in a Sentence

tends to speak in homiletic aphorisms, which can be a little tiresome

Recent Examples on the Web

 That interpretation of Kipling’s homiletic verse required her to overlook its gender-specific language, which is directed exclusively to boys who want to be men. — Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, "Rudyard Kipling loved Vermont. Then he had to leave it.," 15 July 2019 There was no Jesus in that house, no Bible, no devotional materials of any kind, no crucifixes or homiletic asides, nothing. — Stephen Metcalf, The New Yorker, "How Roger Ailes Degraded the Tone of Public Life in America," 19 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'homiletic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of homiletic

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for homiletic

Late Latin homileticus, from Greek homilētikos of conversation, from homilein

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More from Merriam-Webster on homiletic

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with homiletic

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for homiletic

Nglish: Translation of homiletic for Spanish Speakers

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