A.devoted to the gods:
I. in good sense, sacred, holy:
1. of things, esp. temples, “ἈΦροδίτης ἱρὸν ἅ.” Hdt. 2.41; ἱρο᾽ν Ἡρακλέος ἅ. ib.44, cf. Pl.Criti.116c, X.HG3.2.19; “θηρίον” Antiph.147.7; “νηὸν ἐπὶ τψ̂ χάσματι Ἥρης ἅ. ἐστήσατο” Luc.Syr.D.13: generally, θυσίαι, ξυμβόλαια, Isoc.10.63, Pl.Lg.729e（Sup.); “μητρός.. ἐστι πατρὶς ἁγιώτερον” Id.Cri.51a; “ὅρκος ἅ.” Arist.Mir.834b11; ἅ., τό, temple, OGI56.59 (Canopus), LXX Ex.26.33, al., cf. Ep.Heb.9.2; “τὸ ἅ. τῶν ἁγίων” Holy of Holies, LXX l. c.; “τὰ ἅ. τῶν ἁ.” 3 Ki.8.6, etc., cf. Ep.Heb.9.3.
2. of persons, holy, pure, Ar.Av.522 (anap.); “λαὸς ἅ. Κυρίῳ” LXX De.7.6, al.; “οἱ ἅ.” the Saints, 1 Ep.Cor.6.1,al.; “πνεῦμα ἅ.” the Holy Spirit, Ev.Matt.3.11, al. Adv. “ἁγίως καὶ σεμνῶς ἔχειν” Isoc. 11.25.
II. in bad sense, accursed, execrable, Cratin.373, Eust. 1356.59.—Never in Hom., Hes., or Trag. (who use ἁγνός); rare in Att. (v. supr.). (Possibly cognate with Skt. yajati 'sacrifice'.)
