In this one word substitution question, you must choose the single word that best expresses the meaning of the given definition: "The state or quality of being holy." Which of the following words correctly matches this definition?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on one word substitution, a popular topic in competitive English exams. You are given a definition and must choose the single word that conveys that meaning. The definition here is The state or quality of being holy, which is commonly used in religious, moral and ethical discussions. Recognising the correct term improves your ability to read serious texts and write with precision.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The definition is: The state or quality of being holy.
• The options are Avarice, Baseness, Sanctity and Parsimony.
• The right word must reflect holiness, sacredness or moral purity.
• The other options describe very different moral or financial qualities.

Concept / Approach:
Sanctity is the standard English noun for the condition of being holy or sacred. It is used in phrases such as the sanctity of life or the sanctity of a temple. Avarice means extreme greed for wealth, baseness refers to moral lowliness or wickedness, and parsimony means extreme unwillingness to spend money. Only sanctity carries the idea of holiness and sacred value. By matching these dictionary meanings to the definition given, you can quickly eliminate the wrong choices and select the correct one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key idea in the definition: the state or quality of being holy. Step 2: Recall the meaning of Sanctity, which is holiness of life, character or object. Step 3: Check its usage: phrases like the sanctity of marriage or the sanctity of the shrine directly refer to sacredness. Step 4: Consider Avarice, which means extreme greed for money or material gain, clearly the opposite of moral purity. Step 5: Consider Baseness and Parsimony. Baseness is moral lowliness, and parsimony is miserliness. Both are negative traits unrelated to holiness. Therefore, Sanctity is the only option matching the definition.

Verification / Alternative check:
A good verification technique is to place each word into a sentence framed by the definition. If you say The sanctity of the temple must be preserved, the sentence is meaningful and common. If you try The avarice of the temple must be preserved, it becomes nonsense. The baseness of the temple must be preserved and The parsimony of the temple must be preserved are also illogical. This confirmation by usage shows that sanctity alone aligns with the idea of something being holy or sacred.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Avarice is a vice, describing intense greed, which is often criticised in moral and religious texts. Baseness refers to actions or character that are low, dishonourable or wicked, again a moral fault, not holiness. Parsimony is extreme unwillingness to spend money, sometimes seen as miserliness, which relates to financial behaviour not to spiritual state. None of these words can be used credibly where the text is concerned with holiness or sacred value. They therefore cannot substitute for the given definition.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may confuse sanctity with sanity or sanctimonious and become unsure. Others may misread parsimony as a positive term and consider it close to purity. The key is to build clear meaning associations when you study vocabulary, such as sanctity equals holiness or sacredness, and parsimony equals miserliness. Writing small example sentences for each new word you learn will make such associations stronger and help you answer one word substitution questions quickly and accurately in the exam.

Final Answer:
The correct one word substitution for The state or quality of being holy is Sanctity.