Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A Christian feast commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus.
- n. The day on which this feast is observed, the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or next after the vernal equinox.
- n. Eastertide.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A festival observed in the Christian church, from early times, in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It corresponds with the Passover of the Jews, which in the King James version of the Bible is called once by the name of Easter (Acts xii. 4). The name appears several times in earlier versions. Easter is observed by the Greek, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches, and by many among the non-liturgical churches who do not generally regard the church year. The esteem in which it is held is indicated by its ancient title, “the great day.” Easter is the Sunday which follows that 14th day of the calendar moon which falls upon or next after the 21st day of March. This is true both of old style and new, and the rule has been used, though not universally, from a very early day.
- Of or pertaining to Easter.
- In the English universities, a term held in the spring and lasting for about six weeks after Easter.
- Eastern; easterly.
- To change toward the east, as the wind; move toward the east, as the head of a vessel.
Wiktionary
- n. Christianity A Christian feast commemorating the resurrection of Christ; the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or next after the vernal equinox, neither earlier than March 22 nor later than April 25.
- n. Eastertide
- n. obsolete The Jewish passover.
- n. paganism A festival held in honour of the goddess Eostre or Ostara and celebrated at the spring equinox or within the month of April. Also known as Eostre.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. An annual church festival commemorating Christ's resurrection, and occurring on Sunday, the second day after Good Friday. It corresponds to the pascha or passover of the Jews, and most nations still give it this name under the various forms of
pascha ,pasque ,pâque , orpask . - n. The day on which the festival is observed; Easter day.
- v. (Naut.) To veer to the east; -- said of the wind.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
- n. a wind from the east
Etymologies
- Old English ēastre, apparently from Ēastre, the name of a goddess whose festival was celebrated at the vernal equinox. (Wiktionary)
- Middle English ester, from Old English ēastre; see aus- in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“Easter festivities: The Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas will hold the following activities Sunday: Easter Sunrise service in the Meditation Garden, 6 a.m.; celebration services in the sanctuary, 9 and 11 a.m.”
“He says that the Saxon invaders in Britain chomped on buns adorned with impressions of crosses in honor of the pagan goddess of light, Eostre, from whom the name Easter is derived.”
The Huffington Post: One For The Table: Perfect for Easter Hot Cross Buns
“For the un-initiated, the term Easter eggs is geek parlance for secret gags and goofs buried deep inside software.”
“Have you ever wondered where the term Easter comes from?”
“This Easter is the one-year anniversary of my being Catholic.”
“We have what we call Easter duty, which means sometime from Lent to Trinity Sunday, in that three or four month window, a Catholic is required to receive holy communion.”
“At the opening of spring, when the Christians were celebrating the feast which they call Easter, there arose a mutiny among the soldiers in Libya.”
History of the Wars, Books III and IV (of 8) The Vandalic War
“[743] It may be necessary to remind some English readers that in Latin and its derived European languages, what we call Easter is called the passover”
“The city of Seattle purposely leaves out the word "Easter" from its annual community-center "spring egg hunts.”
“Following the Lord's Passover victory, that which we call Easter, and his ascension after forty days to the Father's right hand, the disciples did continue on to follow the Lord by their obedience in staying together and coming together in prayer.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘Easter’.
Tweets
Looking for tweets for Easter.
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