Ash wednesday

/æʃ wɛnz.dɛɪ/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The Wednesday 46 days before Easter in a given year, (Catholicism) traditionally observed as the beginning of Lent and a day of strict abstention from certain foods and pleasures.

    "Pope Gregory the Great introduced the sprinkling of ashes... which gave it the name of Ash-Wednesday."

  2. 2
    the 7th Wednesday before Easter; the first day of Lent; the day following Mardi Gras (‘Fat Tuesday’); a day of fasting and repentance wordnet
  3. 3
    A cocktail made from a mix of gin, heavy cream, honey syrup, and blackberries

Synonyms

All synonyms
adventallhallowmasallhallowsallhallowtideannunciationannunciation day

Example

More examples

"Pope Gregory the Great introduced the sprinkling of ashes... which gave it the name of Ash-Wednesday."

Etymology

From Middle English Aschewednysday, Axwednesdai, from asshe, axe (“ash”) + Wednesdai, Wednysday (“Wednesday”), from the custom of using the blessed ashes of the previous year's palm fronds (cf. Palm Sunday) to mark the heads of the congregation on the day. By surface analysis, ash + Wednesday.

Next best steps

Browse writing guidesExplore topic clusters