Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Whitsun — (Old English for White Sunday ) is the 49th day (seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. In the Christian calendar, it is also known as Pentecost, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.It has that meaning in the following:* … Wikipedia
Whitsun — Whit sun, a. Of, pertaining to, or observed at, Whitsuntide; as, Whitsun week; Whitsun Tuesday; Whitsun pastorals. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Whitsun — [hwit′sən, wit′sən] adj. [ME whitsone < whitsondei, understood as Whitsun Day: see WHITSUNDAY] of or observed on Whitsunday or at Whitsuntide … English World dictionary
Whitsun — late 13c., contraction of WHITSUNDAY (Cf. Whitsunday) … Etymology dictionary
Whitsun — UK [ˈwɪts(ə)n] / US / US [ˈhwɪts(ə)n] or Whitsuntide UK [ˈwɪts(ə)nˌtaɪd] / US / US [ˈhwɪts(ə)nˌtaɪd] noun [uncountable] the seventh Sunday after Easter, when Christians celebrate the time when the Holy Spirit came from Heaven to Earth. The… … English dictionary
Whitsun — ► NOUN ▪ Whitsuntide … English terms dictionary
Whitsun — The English name for the Church festival otherwise called Pentecost, held on the seventh Sunday after Easter as the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit and the inspiration of the Apostles. The derivation of the word Whitsun is… … A Dictionary of English folklore
Whitsun — Recorded in many spellings including Whitson, Whitsun, Whiteson, Whittson, Whetson, Witson, Wittson and possibly others, this is an English and occasionally Scottish, medieval surname. It is believed to have two origins. The must usual like the… … Surnames reference
Whitsun — noun Whitsun is used before these nouns: ↑recess … Collocations dictionary
Whitsun — Whit|sun [ˈwıtsən] n [U and C] BrE 1.) also .Whit Sunday the seventh Sunday after Easter, when Christians celebrate the ↑Holy Spirit coming down from heaven = ↑pentecost 2.) also Whit|sun|tide [ˈwıtsəntaıd] the period around Whitsun … Dictionary of contemporary English
Whitsun — [OE] Whitsun is etymologically ‘white Sunday’. The name comes from the ancient tradition of clothing newly baptized people in white on the feast of Pentecost. The abbreviated form Whit began to be used with other days of the week (such as Whit… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
