Easter
See also: easter
English
Etymology
From Middle English Ester,[1][2] Eestour, from Old English ēastre (“Easter”),[1][2] cognate to Old High German ōstarūn,[1][2] and related to Ēostre, Ēastre, a goddess and her festival that was celebrated at the vernal equinox,[1] from Proto-Germanic *Austrǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwsōs, as well as to east.[1][2] Cognate with German Low German Oostern (“Easter”), German Ostern and German Osterfest (“Easter”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈiː.stə/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈi.stɚ/
- Rhymes: -iːstə(ɹ)
Noun
Easter (countable and uncountable, plural Easters)
- (Christianity) A Christian feast commemorating the resurrection of Christ; the first Sunday (and Monday) following the full moon that occurs on or next after the vernal equinox, ranging from March 22 to April 25.
- We spent each of the past five Easters together as a family.
- Eastertide
- (obsolete) The Jewish Passover.
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Mark XIV:
- After two dayes folowed ester, and the dayes of swete breed.
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Mark XIV:
- (paganism) A festival held in honour of the goddess Eostre or Ostara, celebrated at the spring equinox or within the month of April, and also called Ostara or Eostre.
- Easter term.
Derived terms
Translations
Christian holiday
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References
- “Easter” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
- “Easter” in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary.
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