Christmas

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: krĭsʹməs, IPA(key): /ˈkɹɪsməs/ Rhymes: -ɪsməs Hyphenation: Christ‧mas === Etymology 1 === 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 adjective sense 1 (“red and green in color”) refers to these colors being traditionally associated with Christmas. ==== Proper noun ==== Christmas (countable and uncountable, plural Christmases or Christmasses) (also attributive) (originally Christianity) 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. Synonyms: (Britain, slang, humorous) Chrimble, (Britain, slang, humorous) Chrimbo, (Australia, slang) Chrissy, (Britain, slang, humorous) Crimble, (Britain, slang, humorous) Crimbo, Noel, Yule Hyponyms: Chrismahanukwanzakah, Chrismukkah (often marketing) Ellipsis of Christmas season (“the period of time before and after Christmas Day, during which people prepare for and celebrate Christmas”); Christmastime. A number of places in the United States: An uninhabited mining community in Gila County, Arizona. A census-designated place in Orange County, Florida. An unincorporated community in Au Train Township, Alger County, Michigan. An unincorporated community in Bolivar County, Mississippi. A surname. ===== Alternative forms ===== Christ-mas (emphasizing Jesus Christ) Christmass, Christmasse (archaic) Xmas, X-mas (abbreviation, informal) Xtmas (abbreviation, archaic) Crimmas (pronunciation spelling, humorous) ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Descendants ===== ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== (associated entries): ==== Noun ==== Christmas (uncountable) (informal or UK, regional) Sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations; also (generally), any Christmas decorations. Synonym: Christmasing ===== Translations ===== ==== Adjective ==== Christmas (not comparable) (US) Red and green in color. (chiefly New Mexico, cooking) Of a dish: having a sauce made with red (ripe) and green (unripe) chili peppers. ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== Christmas (third-person singular simple present Christmases or Christmasses, present participle Christmasing or Christmassing, simple past and past participle Christmased or Christmassed) (transitive, informal) To decorate (a place) with Christmas (“sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations, or any Christmas decorations”). (transitive, obsolete, rare) To bring (someone) Christmas cheer. (intransitive) To celebrate Christmas. (intransitive) To spend Christmas or the Christmas season in some place. (colloquial) To subject to Christmas celebrations. ===== Alternative forms ===== Xmas (abbreviation, informal) ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Short for Jiminy Christmas, probably a variant of Jiminy Cricket or Jiminy Crickets, a euphemism for Jesus Christ. ==== Interjection ==== Christmas (euphemistic) An expression of annoyance or surprise: Christ, Jesus Christ, Jiminy Cricket, Jiminy Crickets. Synonyms: Jesus Christmas, jiminy Christmas, Jimmy Christmas ===== Translations ===== === References === === Further reading === Christmas on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Christmas (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === Chartisms == French == === Alternative forms === Chrismisse, Chrismusse, Chrismeusse === Etymology === Borrowed from English Christmas. === Pronunciation === (Louisiana) IPA(key): [kris.mis], [kris.mys], [kris.mœs] === Proper noun === Christmas m (invariable) (Louisiana) Christmas Synonyms: Noël m, jour de Noël m — Louisiana === References === Dictionary of Louisiana French: As Spoken in Cajun, Creole, and American Indian Communities (2010; →ISBN; →ISBN) == Naga Pidgin == === Etymology === Borrowed from English Christmas. === Proper noun === Christmas Christmas == Scots == === Noun === Christmas Christmas present