hallowed

adjective

hal·​lowed ˈha-(ˌ)lōd 

ˈha-ləd,

 in the Lord's Prayer often  ˈha-lə-wəd

1

: holy, consecrated

the church stands on hallowed ground

2

: sacred, revered

the university's hallowed halls

hallowed customs

Did you know?

Hallowed Has Old English Roots

The adjective hallowed probably doesn't give you the shivers—or does it? Hallowed is the past participle of the verb hallow, a term that descends from the Middle English halowen. That word can be traced back to the Old English adjective hālig, meaning "holy." During the Middle Ages, All Hallows' Day was the name for what Christians now call All Saints' Day, and the evening that preceded All Hallows' Day was All Hallows' Eve or All Hallow Even—or, as we know it today, Halloween.

Synonyms

• revered
• reverend
• sacred
• venerable
• venerated

Examples of hallowed in a Sentence

The church stands on hallowed ground.

the college's hallowed tradition of ringing the chapel bell one hundred times before commencement ceremonies

Recent Examples on the Web

The battlefield is one of the most hallowed historic sites in the country, and, unlike other areas with memorials to Confederate soldiers, is located in the North. —Rebecca Sheehan, The Conversation, 17 Nov. 2023

Darwin had the Beagle, Hemingway the Pilar, and for writer John Steinbeck and biologist Ed Ricketts, there was the Western Flyer, hallowed ground for their six-week journey in the spring of 1940 to the Sea of Cortez. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023

Thankfully the way a lot of companies choose to observe this most hallowed of days is by offering coffee deals and cheap (or free) beans! —WIRED, 29 Sep. 2023

This is Día de Muertos, a colorful, hallowed tradition where the ancestors are honored and welcomed back home. —Jp Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023

But New Hampshire’s lead spot is not merely a matter of hallowed tradition; it is enshrined in a state law that mandates the primary election date be at least one week ahead of any other state’s contest. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 10 Sep. 2023

Or, head into the hallowed halls of the Uffizi Galleries in Florence after the midday crowds disperse to enjoy a personalized tour of the museum’s masterpieces. —Joyce Falcone, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2023

Tucker, fellow vocal powerhouse Patty Loveless and songwriter Bob McDill make up this year’s Hall of Fame class, bringing its hallowed number to 152. —Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023

Standing on that hallowed ground, surrounded by the spirit of the music legend who once walked those fields, was a surreal experience. —Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

see hallow

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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