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.
As Shakspeare says: "My queen to France, from whence set forth in pomp, She came adorned hither like sweet May, Sent back like Hallowmas or shortest day."
From St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878 No 1, Nov 1877 by Dodge, Mary Mapes
When he was here at Hallowmas I offered him the beast, and he told me to keep her until any time when I was aware that cattle would be at the best price.
From Second Shetland Truck System Report by Guthrie, William
It was Hallowmas Eve, and Giles had been the bearer of an urgent invitation from Dennet to her friend Aldonza to come and join the diversions of the evening.
From The Armourer's Prentices by Hennessy, W.J.
In Scotland, when the last corn was cut after Hallowmas, the female figure made out of it was sometimes called the Carlin or Carline, that is, the Old Woman.
From The Golden Bough by Frazer, James George, Sir
Malone, one of the early editors of Shakespeare, says that Othello was acted at Hallowmas, 1604.
From An Introduction to Shakespeare by MacCracken, H. N.
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.
