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feria

1

[ feer-ee-uh ]

noun

, plural fe·ri·ae [feer, -ee-ee], fe·ri·as.
  1. Ecclesiastical. a weekday on which no feast is celebrated.


feria

2

[ fe-ryah; English fer-ee-uh ]

noun

, Spanish.
, plural fe·rias [fe, -, r, yahs, fer, -ee-, uh, z].
  1. a local festival or fair in Spain or Spanish America, usually held in honor of a patron saint.

feria

/ ˈfɪərɪə /

noun

  1. RC Church a weekday, other than Saturday, on which no feast occurs
“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


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Other Words From

  • feri·al adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of feria1

First recorded 1760–65; from Late Latin: “day of the week” (e.g. secunda fēria “second day, Monday”); in Latin only plural fēriae “holidays”; fair 2
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Word History and Origins

Origin of feria1

C19: from Late Latin: day of the week (as in prīma fēria Sunday), singular of Latin fēriae festivals
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Example Sentences

“Toda la feria,” he kept repeating in stilted Spanish — all the money.

Even worse, Creeper complained, they had already sold some of the phones and “made a gang of feria” — a bunch of cash.

“Let them do all the drug dealing, let them do all that. And all we do is get the feria” — money — “for the protection.”

Some of the Gitana girls are remarkably handsome, and the gay colours of their clothing lend animation to this part of the feria.

The man who had painted pinturas de la feria only three years ago could now choose his own commissions.

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More About Feria

What does feria mean?

Feria is a word used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to a weekday on which no feast is celebrated.

In this context, a feria is any weekday (Monday through Friday) that doesn’t celebrate a holy mystery, event, or person (such as a saint). Days that celebrate one of these are called feast days.

The plural of feria is feriae or ferias. The adjective form of this meaning of feria is ferial, as in Monday is a ferial day. 

The religious sense of feria is not commonly used today, even among most Catholics. You’re much more likely to hear the word feria in Spanish, in which it refers to a local fair or festival, especially one to celebrate a local saint.

Example: Friday was a feria because there was no religious feast celebrated.

Where does feria come from?

The first records of the word feria in English come from the early 1760s. It comes from the Late Latin word of the same spelling meaning “day of the week.” For example, in Latin, Monday was referred to as secunda fēria (“second day”). Versions of the term were used in Latin to refer to special holidays.

Today, the word feria is typically only used in technical discussions of the Catholic Church calendar. You are much more likely to hear the word feria used to refer to a festival held in Spain or Latin America. One of the biggest, most popular of these festivals is the Feria de Abril, which is held every year in Seville, Spain, and consists of a week of dancing, music, and fireworks.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to feria?

  • ferial (adjective)
  • ferias (plural noun)
  • feriae (plural noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with feria

What are some words that often get used in discussing feria?

How is feria used in real life?

The word feria is used in discussions of the calendar used by the Catholic Church. It is also a Spanish word for a kind of festival.

 

Try using feria!

True or False?

The word feria is used by followers of Judaism to refer to a day when a feast is not held.

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