HOLY OF HOLIES • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Holy of holies

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Holy of holies

noun

(figurative) something regarded as sacred or inviolable.

(Judaism) sanctuary comprised of the innermost chamber of the Tabernacle in the temple of Solomon where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. Synonym: sanctum sanctorum.

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Etymology of 'Holy of holies'

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"Holy of holies" Quotes from Famous Books

... the usual groans of complaint about secrecy, but in the end avarice won over taboo and the door to the holy of holies was opened for Jason while two of the sciuloj, with bared and ready daggers, stood at his sides. At almost the same instant Jason looked in through the door ...

— The Ethical Engineer • Henry Maxwell Dempsey

... clear atmosphere which our Gothic churches in moist England present. Not more widely did the external aspect of the tabernacle in the wilderness, with its dark goat-skin coverings, differ from the interior of the Holy of holies, with its golden furniture, than does the commonplace look of the outside of the church of Santa Maria del Popolo differ from its magnificent interior. It is a perfect museum of sculpture and painting. Splendid tombs of eminent cardinals of the best period of the ...

— Roman Mosaics - Or, Studies in Rome and Its Neighbourhood • Hugh Macmillan

... "Havamal." The first thing enjoined upon a man both by the Norse writer and by the Spanish author is the art of silence. Probably this has been the result of social experience in all countries. "Cautious silence is the holy of holies of worldly wisdom," says Gracian. And he gives many elaborate reasons for this statement, not the least of which is the following: "If you do not declare yourself immediately, you arouse expectation, especially when the importance ...

— Books and Habits from the Lectures of Lafcadio Hearn • Lafcadio Hearn

... into the Holy of Holies," said another student, in relating his experience in listening to ...

— Pushing to the Front • Orison Swett Marden

... its breadth twenty, and the red marbles of the revetment were clean polished as a mirror, so that every image was reflected in it to the life. The dome was exquisitely carved and sumptuously ornamented without; and within were ranged in due rank and sequence rows and rows of idols. To this, the Holy of Holies, from morn till eve thousands of Brahmins, men and women, came docking for daily worship. They had sports and diversions as well as rites and ceremonies: some feasted and others danced, some sang, others played on instruments of mirth and ...

— Supplemental Nights, Volume 3 • Richard F. Burton

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