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Michaelmas

American  
[mik-uhl-muhs] / ˈmɪk əl məs /

noun

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


Michaelmas British  
/ ˈmɪkəlməs /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Michaelmas

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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 • Sep. 4, 2025

The Michaelmas Avenue house had been built by his father, David.

From Washington Times • May 21, 2017

They were decorated as a daffodil, a pink rose, a Michaelmas daisy and a Christmas rose.

From BBC • May 17, 2013

Oxford, for example has Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity, marking the feast days of the Archangel Michael, St Hilary of Poitiers and the metaphysical constitution of God.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2012

I politely thanked Sir Lawrence for accepting me and told Max I would be back in three weeks for the start of the Michaelmas term.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson