Hallowmas
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What is Hallowmas? Hallowmas is an older name for All Saints’ Day, a Christian holiday in honor of all the Christian saints. It originated as a holiday of the Catholic Church, but it is also observed by some other Christians. The day after All Saints’ Day is All Souls’ Day, a Christian holiday of solemn prayer for all dead persons. Other names for the day include Allhallows and Allhallowmas. The night before was known as Allhallows Eve, which is where the word Halloween comes from.
Etymology
Origin of Hallowmas
1375–1425; late Middle English; short for Allhallowmas
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
HALLOWE’EN, or All Hallows Eve, the name given to the 31st of October as the vigil of Hallowmas or All Saints’ Day.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8 "Haller, Albrecht" to "Harmonium" by Various
Now wasna that a bonnie and fearful sight to see beneath the light of the Hallowmas moon?
From Folk-Lore and Legends Scotland by Anonymous
The season of Hallowmas, having been frequently mild, has been, from time immemorial, proverbially called “All-hallown summer,” i. e., late summer.
From Folk-lore of Shakespeare by Thomas Firminger Thiselton-Dyer
And, I beseech you, look into Master Froth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas:—was’t not at Hallowmas, Master Froth?—
From Measure for Measure The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] by John Glover
So ye see it was Hallowmas Night, and looking on sea and land sat I; and my heart wandering to other thoughts soon made me forget my youthful company at hame.
From Folk-Lore and Legends Scotland by Anonymous
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
