Samhain

or Sa·main, sa·mh'in

[ sah-win ]

/ ˈsɑ wɪn /

noun

a festival of the ancient Celts, held around November 1 to celebrate the beginning of winter.

Origin of Samhain

1885–90; < Irish; Old Irish samain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for samhain

The shadows of the dead gather round at Samhain time to see is there any one among their friends saying a few Masses for them.
Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland, Second Series|Lady Gregory
The second battle took place twenty-seven years after the first, on Samhain.
The Religion of the Ancient Celts|J. A. MacCulloch
Their repose of manner may come from modern France; at least so held Mr. Yeats, pointing to such a source in "Samhain" of 1902.
Irish Plays and Playwrights|Cornelius Weygandt
Mother: I must make my feast all the same, for Samhain night is more to me than to any other one.
Seven Short Plays|Lady Gregory

And any one that came to her house at Samhain time might stay till Beltaine, and have his choice then to go or to stay.
Gods and Fighting Men|Lady I. A. Gregory

British Dictionary definitions for samhain

Samhain

/ (ˈsɑːwɪn, ˈsaʊeɪn, ˈsaʊɪn) /

noun

an ancient Celtic festival held on Nov 1 to mark the beginning of winter and the beginning of a new year. It is also celebrated by modern pagans

Word Origin for Samhain

from Irish, from Old Irish samain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Samhain

or Sa·main, sa·mh'in

noun

RELATED CONTENT

Origin of Samhain

Examples from the Web for samhain

British Dictionary definitions for samhain

Samhain

noun

Word Origin for Samhain