midsummer

From Middle English midsomer, midsumer, from Old English midsumer, midsumor (“midsummer”), from Proto-West Germanic *midisumar, from Proto-Germanic *midjasumaraz (“midsummer”), equivalent to mid- +‎ summer. Cognate with West Frisian midsimmer (“midsummer”), Dutch midzomer (“midsummer”), German Mittsommer (“midsummer”), Danish midsommer (“midsummer”), Swedish midsommar (“midsummer”), Icelandic miðsumar (“midsummer”).

• IPA^(key): /mɪdˈsʌmə(ɹ)/, /ˈmɪdˌsʌmə(ɹ)/

• Audio (Southern England):

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midsummer (countable and uncountable, plural midsummers)

1. The period around the summer solstice; around June 21st in the northern hemisphere.
2. The first day of summer.
3. The middle of summer.
4. Midsummer Day, the English quarter day.
5. A pagan holiday or Wiccan Sabbat.

midsummer (not comparable)

1. Occurring in the middle of summer.