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Christmas

//ˈkɹɪsməs// adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Adjective

1
Red and green in color. US, also, attributive, not-comparable
2
Of a dish: having a sauce made with red (ripe) and green (unripe) chili peppers. US, also, attributive, not-comparable

Intj

1
An expression of annoyance or surprise: Christ, Jesus Christ, Jiminy Cricket, Jiminy Crickets. US, also, attributive, euphemistic
""Christmas! I didn't know it," said Harvey, turning round. "I'll give you a dollar for it when I—get my wages. Say, I'll give you two dollars.""

Proper Noun

1
A festival or holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and incorporating various Christian, pre-Christian, pagan, and secular customs, which in Western Christianity is celebrated on December 25 (Christmas Day) in most places. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
"Do you celebrate Christmas?"
2
Ellipsis of Christmas season (“the period of time before and after Christmas Day, during which people prepare for and celebrate Christmas”); Christmastime. abbreviation, also, alt-of, attributive, countable, ellipsis, often, uncountable
"The last three Christmases have been good for retailers."
3
A number of places in the United States:; An uninhabited mining community in Gila County, Arizona. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
4
A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Orange County, Florida. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
5
A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Au Train Township, Alger County, Michigan. also, attributive, countable, uncountable

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6
A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Bolivar County, Mississippi. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
7
A surname. also, attributive, countable, uncountable

Noun

1
Sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations; also (generally), any Christmas decorations. British, also, attributive, informal, regional, uncountable
"[T]he antient Britons employed for the decoration of their houſes, or, more properly ſpeaking, of their bovvers, branches of ever-green, in invitation to the ſpirits: a cuſtom, vvhich, hovvever the motive may be aboliſhed, is retained to this inſtant. That kind of verdure vvhich is uſed to deck the vvindovvs, and old halls, vve novv, by metonymy, call Chriſtmas."
2
a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland wordnet
3
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6 wordnet

Verb

1
To decorate (a place) with Christmas (“sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations, or any Christmas decorations”). US, also, attributive, informal, transitive
""Then look," said a gardener to me, "what's spent on a Christmasing the churches! Why, now, properly to Christmas St. Paul's, I say properly, mind, would take 50l. worth at least; aye, more, when I think of it, nearer 100l. I hope there'll be no 'No Popery' nonsense against Christmasing this year. I'm always sorry when anything of that kind's afloat, because it's frequently a hindrance to business.""
2
To bring (someone) Christmas cheer. US, also, attributive, obsolete, rare, transitive
"Her labours feast imperial Night with sports, / Where loves are Christmass'd, with all pleasure's sorts; […]"
3
To celebrate Christmas. US, also, attributive, intransitive
"The 2016 campaign via TBWA Sydney asks the question, ‘How do Australians Christmas?’ with a film to be launched today featuring global superstar and style icon, Cate Blanchett."
4
To spend Christmas or the Christmas season in some place. US, also, attributive, intransitive
"I've Christmased since those palmy days / In many a varied spot, / And suffered many a weary phase / Of Christmas cold and hot."
5
To subject to Christmas celebrations. US, also, attributive, colloquial
"“[…] But there’s only so much joyful, greedy delight you can see in a young child’s eyes before you want to go screaming out for the nearest bar.” He tossed his handstitched, kidskin gloves onto the table top. “I’m about Christmassed-out, if you want to know.”"

Etymology

Etymology 1

The proper noun is derived from Middle English Cristemasse, Criste-mas (“Christmas Day; season of Christmas; Christmas festivities”) [and other forms], from Old English Cristes mæsse (“Christmas”, literally “Christ’s mass”), from Crist (“Christ”) + -es (possessive marker) + mæsse (“a mass (celebration of the Eucharist)”). The English word is analysable as Christ + -mas (suffix denoting a holiday or sacred day). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Kristmisse (“Christmas”), West Frisian Krystmis (“Christmas”), Dutch Kerstmis (“Christmas”), German Low German Karstmis (“Christmas”). The noun, adjective, and verb are derived from the proper noun. Adjective etymology 1 sense 1 (“red and green in color”) refers to these colors being traditionally associated with Christmas.

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

Etymology 4

Etymology 5

Short for Jiminy Christmas, probably a variant of Jiminy Cricket or Jiminy Crickets, a euphemism for Jesus Christ.

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