name-day
Definition
- Noun:
- Day of a saint's feast: "name-day" refers to the day of the year dedicated to a particular saint, especially in Christian traditions, which is celebrated by people who bear that saint's name as their given name.
- Day of naming: "name-day" can also mean the day on which a child is formally given a name, often in a baptism or naming ceremony.
Usage Examples
- (The feast day of the saint whose name they share.)
- (The formal naming ceremony.)
Advanced Usage
"to observe one's name-day": to celebrate or commemorate the day of the saint one is named after.
- She observes her name-day every year on the feast of Saint Margaret. (She celebrates the saint's feast day associated with her name.)
"name-day gift": a present given to someone on their name-day.
- He received a beautiful book as a name-day gift. (A present for the saint's feast day celebration.)
Variants and Related Words
Name (n): a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known.
- Her name is Maria. (Her personal identifier.)
Day (n): a period of 24 hours, especially from midnight to midnight.
- The event lasts for one day. (A single 24-hour period.)
Synonyms
- Feast day: a day dedicated to a saint or religious event.
- Saint's day: the specific day in the calendar associated with a saint.
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms
"Every day is a name-day": a saying meaning that every day can be a celebration or that someone is always in a festive mood.
- For her, every day is a name-day; she always finds something to celebrate. (She is always joyful.)
"To have a name-day": to celebrate the feast day of one's namesake saint.
- In Greece, it is common to have a name-day party. (To hold a celebration for the saint's feast day.)