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Christmas

name
/ˈkɹɪsməs/US

Etymology

The proper noun is derived from Middle English Cristemasse, Criste-mas (“Christmas Day; season of Christmas; Christmas festivities”) [and other forms], from Old English Cristes mæsse (“Christmas”, literally “Christ’s mass”), from Crist (“Christ”) + -es (possessive marker) + mæsse (“a mass (celebration of the Eucharist)”). The English word is analysable as Christ + -mas (suffix denoting a holiday or sacred day). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Kristmisse (“Christmas”), West Frisian Krystmis (“Christmas”), Dutch Kerstmis (“Christmas”), German Low German Karstmis (“Christmas”). The noun, adjective, and verb are derived from the proper noun. Adjective etymology 1, adjective sense 1 (“red and green in color”) refers to these colors being traditionally associated with Christmas.

  1. inherited from Cristes mæsse — “Christmas”
  2. inherited from Cristemasse

Definitions

  1. A festival or holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and incorporating various…

    A festival or holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and incorporating various Christian, pre-Christian, pagan, and secular customs, which in Western Christianity is celebrated on December 25 (Christmas Day) in most places.

    • Do you celebrate Christmas?
    • This Christmas we’ll open presents, then go to grandma’s for dinner.
    • Be gladde, lordes, bothe more and lasse, / For this hath ordeyned our stewarde / To chere you all this christmasse / The bores heed with mustarde.

  2. Ellipsis of Christmas season (“the period of time before and after Christmas Day, during…

    Ellipsis of Christmas season (“the period of time before and after Christmas Day, during which people prepare for and celebrate Christmas”); Christmastime.

    • The last three Christmases have been good for retailers.
    • Christmas shoppers spent less this December than last year, but our store will probably see just as many returned items during the twelve days of Christmas.
    • There'll be parties for hosting / Marshmallows for toasting / And caroling out in the snow / There'll be scary ghost stories / And tales of the glories / Of Christmases long, long ago

  3. A number of places in the United States

    A number of places in the United States:

  4. ›+ 10 more definitions

    1. A surname.

    2. Sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations

      Sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations; also (generally), any Christmas decorations.

    3. Red and green in color.

    4. Of a dish

      Of a dish: having a sauce made with red (ripe) and green (unripe) chili peppers.

    5. To decorate (a place) with Christmas (“sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as…

      To decorate (a place) with Christmas (“sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations, or any Christmas decorations”).

      • (Moving to the holly boughs.) Come on; let's finish Christmassing the place.

    6. To bring (someone) Christmas cheer.

      • Her labours feast imperial Night with sports, / Where loves are Christmass'd, with all pleasure's sorts; […]

    7. To celebrate Christmas.

      • The 2016 campaign via TBWA Sydney asks the question, ‘How do Australians Christmas?’ with a film to be launched today featuring global superstar and style icon, Cate Blanchett.

    8. To spend Christmas or the Christmas season in some place.

      • I've Christmased since those palmy days / In many a varied spot, / And suffered many a weary phase / Of Christmas cold and hot.

    9. To subject to Christmas celebrations.

      • "The kids claim they are all Christmassed-out and have disappeared in protest."
      • I had done Christmas in so many ways that I was somewhat ‘Christmassed-out.

    10. An expression of annoyance or surprise

      An expression of annoyance or surprise: Christ, Jesus Christ, Jiminy Cricket, Jiminy Crickets.

      • "Christmas! I didn't know it," said Harvey, turning round. "I'll give you a dollar for it when I—get my wages. Say, I'll give you two dollars."
      • "I've been tottering on the edge … Christmas!" His eyes brightened with a sudden thought. "How stupid I've been!" he cried at once.
      • She said, "All right with you, Bertie?" / "Oh Christmas! he said. "I suppose so."

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at Christmas. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01christmas02christian03christianity04followers05follower06master's07clipping08clipped09trimmed10trim

A definitional loop anchored at christmas. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

10 hops · closes at christmas

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA