Midsummer Eve

noun

Chiefly British.

1. the evening preceding Midsummer Day: formerly believed to be a time when witches and other supernatural beings caused widespread mischief.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Midsummer Eve¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

It was exciting to go back into the city, especially this Midsummer Eve.

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“The winter solstice and the two equinoxes. Midsummer Eve tends to be the rowdiest of them all.”

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I shall not tell whom I saw walking on my Wild Thyme bank last Midsummer Eve.

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The superstitious inhabitants of the Isle of Man formerly, on Midsummer Eve, lighted fires to the windward side of fields, so that the smoke might pass over the corn.

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It is the immemorial usage in Penzance, and the neighbouring towns and villages, to kindle bonfires and torches on Midsummer Eve....

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