What does "michaelmas" mean?
honoring the archangel Michael; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland
Michaelmas
/ˈmɪkəlməs/ name
name ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: honoring the archangel Michael; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland
- Grammar: michaelmas is listed as name.
- Nearest alternatives: academic term, advent, ash wednesday, autumn term.
- Useful contrasts: ordinary day, spring term, summer term.
- Usage evidence: So it came to pass that one Michaelmas this Hugo, with five or six of his idle and wicked companions, stole down upon the farm and carried off the maiden, her father and brothers being from home, as he well knew.
How to use "michaelmas"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "michaelmas" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "michaelmas" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "michaelmas" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "michaelmas" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "michaelmas" is acting as name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "academic term" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "michaelmas", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 honoring the archangel Michael; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A Christian feast celebrated on the 29th of September in honour of the archangel Michael.
"To make Capons […] [S]ome for this Purpoſe make it their Buſineſs after Harveſt-time to go to Markets for buying up Chickens, and between Michaelmas and All-hollantide caponize the Cocks, when they have got large enough to have Stones [i.e., testes] of ſuch a Bigneſs that they may be pulled out; for if they are too little, it can't be done; […]"
- 2 Ellipsis of Michaelmas term. Ireland, UK, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"So it came to pass that one Michaelmas this Hugo, with five or six of his idle and wicked companions, stole down upon the farm and carried off the maiden, her father and brothers being from home, as he well knew."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "michaelmas"?
Common synonyms include: academic term, advent, ash wednesday, autumn term, carnival, christmas.
How do you use "michaelmas" in a sentence?
So it came to pass that one Michaelmas this Hugo, with five or six of his idle and wicked companions, stole down upon the farm and carried off the maiden, her father and brothers being from home, as he well knew.
How do you pronounce "michaelmas"?
Pronounced /ˈmɪkəlməs/.
Etymology
From Middle English Michelmasse, Myghelmesse; equivalent to Michael + -mas.