- homily
- late 14c., from O.Fr. omelie (12c.), from Church L. homilia "a homily, sermon," from Gk. homilia "conversation, discourse," used in N.T. Gk. for "sermon," from homilos "a crowd," from homou "together" + ile "troop" (cognate with Skt. melah "assembly," L. miles "soldier"). Hence homiletic, from Gk. homiletikos "of conversation, affable," from homelein "associate with," from homilos.