Michaelmas

[mik-uhl-muhs]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a festival celebrated on September 29 in honor of the archangel Michael.

Michaelmas

/ ˈmɪkəlməs /

noun

1. Sept 29, the feast of St Michael the archangel; in England, Ireland, and Wales, one of the four quarter days

Word History and Origins

Origin of Michaelmas¹

before 1150; Middle English Mighelmes; Old English ( Sanct ) Michaeles masse (St.) Michael's mass

Example Sentences

Richardson wrote that he would soon be traveling to the church from Alabama and that he had selected St. Michael’s Abbey because it is one of the few places of worship that still celebrates Michaelmas.

From Los Angeles Times

Therefore, every college hosts a formal around 25 November to start the Christmas festivities, look forward to the holidays and celebrate the outgoing Michaelmas term.

From BBC

Oxford University, which hosts about 24,000 students across 39 colleges, asked students to sign a "responsibility agreement" before the start of its Michaelmas term.

From BBC

He retains a vivid picture of that moment: he was gazing at some Michaelmas daisies when a red admiral flew in.

From The Guardian

The Erigeron genus and the aster genus also have some “daisies;” the former sometimes are called fleabanes, for their alleged ability to drive away fleas, and the latter sometimes are called Michaelmas daisies.

From Washington Times