Cristes mæsse
Old English
Alternative forms
- xp̄esmæsse — abbreviation (equivalent to Modern English Xmas)
- Cristesmæsse
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkris.tes ˌmæs.se/
Noun
Usage notes
According to the OED, the /i/ vowel on the first syllable of this word may originally have been a long i (/iː/), which would later become a short vowel as part of a shortening change that befell three of its syllables in late Old English.[1]
Declension
Weak n-stem:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | Cristes mæsse | — |
| accusative | Cristes mæssan | — |
| genitive | Cristes mæssan | — |
| dative | Cristes mæssan | — |
Synonyms
Derived terms
Descendants
- Middle English: Cristemasse, Cristesmessa, Xp̄es mæssa, Cristemesse, Crystemasse, krystmasse, Crystemesse, Cristynmesse, Cristesmasse, Cristmes
- English: Christmas (see there for further descendants)
- Scots: Christenmas
References
- ^ “Christmas, n. & int..”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2025. (Notes section)