holiday
English meaning: Holiday
Definition
A day on which a festival, religious event, or national celebration is traditionally observed.
Example
“Today is a Wiccan holiday!”
Another example: “The office is closed on Monday because it is a public holiday.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A day of celebration or rest ('public holiday'); in British English also a period of leisure travel ('on holiday'), where American English uses 'vacation'. Very high-frequency, neutral/friendly register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English 'hāligdæg' meaning 'holy day', originally a religious festival; pre-12th century.
Related Words
- inn
- holidays
- thanksgiving
- christmas
- resorts
- caravan
- resort
- accommodation
- celebrated
- destination
Common Collocations
- public holiday
- summer holiday
- on holiday
- bank holiday
- holiday season
- national holiday
Word Forms
holiday (n); holidays (pl); holiday, holidayed, holidaying (v, mainly UK)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B