מעשׂה

See also: מעשה

Yiddish

Alternative forms

  • מײַסע (mayse)Soviet phonetic spelling

Etymology

From Hebrew מַעֲשֶׂה (ma‘asé), with retention of an archaic velar nasal ayin in some pronunciations, assimilated to the following [s] sound. The more common plural form מעשׂיות (mayses/manses) is borrowed from the plural of Hebrew מעשייה / מַעֲשִׂיָּה (ma‘asiyá).

Pronunciation

  • (YIVO, Northern) IPA(key): /ˈmaɪ̯sə/
  • (Southern) IPA(key): /ˈmaːsə/, /ˈmansə/

Noun

מעשׂה • (mayse/mansem or f, plural מעשׂיות (mayses/manses) or מעשׂים (maysem/mansem)

  1. story, tale, narrative
  2. deed, action, act

Usage notes

As per Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary by Solon Beinfeld and Harry Bochner, feminine is more "standard", but some masculine usages occur.

The masculine plural is more commonly used with the meaning of "deed".

Derived terms

Adverb

מעשׂה • (mayse/manse)

  1. in the manner of
    • 1967, Chaim Grade, צמח אַטלאַס [Tsemekh Atlas], page 16:
      צמחס בעל־אַכסניא האָט מעשׂה אַלטער באַקאַנטער אים אַרײַנגעשושקעט אין אויער...
      tsemekhs bal-akhsanye hot mayse alter bakanter im arayngeshushket in oyer...
      Tsemakh's innkeeper whispered to him in his ears in the manner of an old friend...