Hŏm'i-ly, n.

n. [Gr. ὁμιλία, communion, assembly, converse, sermon; Fr. homélie, Sp. & Pg. homilia, Pr. & It. omelia. See HOMILETIC.] A discourse or sermon read or pronounced to an audience; a sermon; a serious discourse.

Book of Homilies (English Church), a collection of plain sermons, which was prepared at the time of the Reformation, to be preached by those of the inferior clergy who were not qualified to compose discourses themselves.