Easter

[ ee-ster ]

noun

1. an annual Christian festival in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, as calculated according to tables based in Western churches on the Gregorian calendar and in Orthodox churches on the Julian calendar.
2. Also called Easter Sunday. the day on which this festival is celebrated.
3. the Easter season; the week following Easter.

Easter

/ ˈiːstə /

noun

1. the most important festival of the Christian Church, commemorating the Resurrection of Christ: falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
2. Also calledEaster SundayEaster Day the day on which this festival is celebrated
3. the period between Good Friday and Easter Monday

Easter

1. An important religious festival among Christians (see also Christian ); it commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus after his Crucifixion . Easter is celebrated on a Sunday in spring, and the season of Easter, a time of rejoicing, continues for several weeks. The penitential season of Lent is a time of preparation for Easter.

Other Words From

• post-Eas·ter adjective
• pre-Eas·ter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Easter¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English ester, Old English ēastre; cognate with German Ostern; originally the name of a goddess and her festival; akin to east

Word History and Origins

Origin of Easter¹

Old English ēastre, after a Germanic goddess Eostre; related to Old High German ōstarūn Easter, Old Norse austr to the east , Old Slavonic ustru like summer

Example Sentences

At the same time, the Easter Elchies House began to deteriorate.

From The Daily Beast

The land at Easter Elchies was the ideal place for Reid to set up his business.

From The Daily Beast

When I reached Easter Elchies House, it was almost midnight, well, well, well passed the time that I was expected to arrive.

From The Daily Beast

And I was lucky enough to receive an invitation to stay at Easter Elchies House, the spiritual home at The Macallan.

From The Daily Beast

The company soon embarked on a refurbishment of Easter Elchies, opening to the public in 1985.

From The Daily Beast

The doctor had been spending Easter at Cannes, and the dowager had devoutly prayed that he might not yet return.

From Project Gutenberg

The devotional reading of the story is a most natural and helpful observance of the Easter season.

From Project Gutenberg

That morning, it was the first Sunday after Easter, the Duchess rode out of the castle on her great sorrel horse, while on?

From Project Gutenberg

I often console myself with thoughts of Easter, spring, and the summer holidays.

From Project Gutenberg

After the reform bill had been read a second time, the lords broke up for the Easter recess.

From Project Gutenberg