Pentecost

[ pen-ti-kawst, -kost ]

noun

1. a Christian festival celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles; Whitsunday.
2. Shavuoth.

Pentecost

/ ˈpɛntɪˌkɒst /

noun

1. a Christian festival occurring on Whit Sunday commemorating the descent of the Holy Ghost on the apostles
2. Also calledFeast of WeeksShavuot Judaism the harvest festival celebrated fifty days after the second day of Passover on the sixth and seventh days of Sivan, and commemorating the giving the Torah on Mount Sinai

Pentecost

1. In the New Testament , the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of Jesus . Pentecost is the Greek name for Shavuot, the spring harvest festival of the Israelites , which was going on when the Holy Spirit came. The disciples were together in Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem ) after Jesus' Resurrection and return to heaven , fearful because he had left them. On that morning, however, “there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Because of the festival, crowds of visitors were in Jerusalem, speaking many languages, but the disciples of Jesus moved among them and spoke to them all, and “every man heard them speak in his own language” about “the wonderful works of God.” Peter then made a powerful speech to the crowds in the city, and many were baptized as new followers of Jesus.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pentecost¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English pentecoste, Old English pentecosten, from Late Latin pentēcostē, from Greek pentēkostḗ (hēmérā) “fiftieth (day),” feminine of pentikostós, ordinal form of pentḗkonta “fifty”; akin to Armenian hisun, Latin quīnquāgintā, Persian panjâh, Sanskrit pañcāśát

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pentecost¹

Old English, from Church Latin pentēcostē, from Greek pentēkostē fiftieth

Example Sentences

The 12th century “Stavelot Retable,” loaned by Paris’ Cluny Museum, shows the Christian Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the 12 apostles, courtesy of beams of light radiating from above.

From Los Angeles Times

An unplanned bonus happens when they are in full bloom during Pentecost, celebrated with the color red.

From Seattle Times

It was coming later in the year over time, and he fretted that events related to Easter like the Pentecost might bump up against pagan festivals.

From Seattle Times

The work adapts and takes its name from the traditional liturgy for 9 o’clock, the time when the Holy Spirit is believed to have appeared to the apostles on Pentecost.

From New York Times

Her cousin, June Renee Pentecost, also came with her for treatment.

From Seattle Times