English Explanatory Dictionary

midsummer

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The period around the summer solstice; around June 21st in the northern hemisphere.
  2. The first day of summer.
  3. The middle of summer.
  4. Midsummer Day, the English quarter day.
  5. A pagan holiday or Wiccan Sabbat.
adj
  1. Of or occurring in the middle of summer.
name
  1. A pagan holiday and Wiccan Sabbat.
  2. Synonym of Midsummer Day.

Pronunciation

/mɪdˈsʌmə(ɹ)/ /ˈmɪdˌsʌmə(ɹ)/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-midsummer.wav

Word forms

midsummer midsummers mid-summer

Etymology

From Middle English midsomer, midsumer, from Old English midsumer, midsumor (“midsummer”), from Proto-West Germanic *midisumar, from Proto-Germanic *midjasumaraz (“midsummer”), equivalent to mid- + summer. Cognate with West Frisian midsimmer (“midsummer”), Dutch midzomer (“midsummer”), German Mittsommer (“midsummer”), Danish midsommer (“midsummer”), Swedish midsommar (“midsummer”), Icelandic miðsumar (“midsummer”).

Synonyms

northern solstice St. John's Day summer solstice Midsummer Day Litha

Derived words

Central European Midsummer Time Midsummer ale midsummer chafer midsummer daisy Midsummer Day Midsummer's Day Midsummer Eve midsummer even Midsummer's Eve midsummer games midsummer growth midsummerish midsummer madness midsummer men midsummer-men midsummer moon Midsummer Night midsummer night's dream midsummer sights midsummer silver midsummery
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