Xmas

//ˈkɹɪs.məs// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Abbreviation of Christmas. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, informal, uncountable

    "In ye Xmas and Whitsuntide Vacations, ye Scholars study at a rate of an hour and a Quarter each day & all yt go home have proportionable Tasks set them..."

Noun
  1. 1
    plural of XMA form-of, plural
  2. 2
    Alternative form of Xmas. alt-of, alternative, informal
  3. 3
    a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    Abbreviation of Christmas. abbreviation, alt-of, informal

    "N:Castle (Xmassing and wanted at play)"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Attested in this form since 1755, and preceded by earlier forms such as X'temmas (1551) and Old English Χp̃es mæssa (1100), from Cristes mæsse, with abbreviation of Cristes by the symbol X, orthographic borrowing from Ancient Greek Χ (Kh, letter chi), from Χριστός (Khristós, “Christ”). By surface analysis, X (“Christ”) + -mas (“holiday”). In popular use since late 19th century. See Wikipedia for more information.

Etymology 2

Attested in this form since 1755, and preceded by earlier forms such as X'temmas (1551) and Old English Χp̃es mæssa (1100), from Cristes mæsse, with abbreviation of Cristes by the symbol X, orthographic borrowing from Ancient Greek Χ (Kh, letter chi), from Χριστός (Khristós, “Christ”). By surface analysis, X (“Christ”) + -mas (“holiday”). In popular use since late 19th century. See Wikipedia for more information.

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