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Webster 1913 Edition
Whitsunday
Whit′sun-day
,Noun.
[
White
+ Sunday
.] 1.
(Eccl.)
The seventh Sunday, and the fiftieth day, after Easter; a festival of the church in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; Pentecost; – so called, it is said, because, in the primitive church, those who had been newly baptized appeared at church between Easter and Pentecost in white garments.
Definition 2024
Whitsunday
Whitsunday
See also: Whit Sunday
English
Alternative forms
Noun
Whitsunday (plural Whitsundays)
- The Sunday of the feast of Pentecost, seven weeks after Easter, when traditionally many Christians would be baptised, wearing white clothes
- 1773: John Byrom, On Whitsunday in Miscellaneous Poems - Jesus, ascended into Heav'n again/Bestow'd this won'drous Gift upon good Men/That various Nations, by his Spirit led,/All understood what Galileans said.
- 2004: Vicki K Black, Welcome to the Church Year: An Introduction to the Seasons of the Episcopal Church - An older name for this day [Pentecost] is Whitsunday, or “white Sunday,” named for the white garments worn by the newly baptised.
- (Scotland) A quarter day, falling on 15th May
Derived terms
Translations
the Sunday of the feast of Pentecost
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a quarter day, falling on 15th May