Sabbath

[ sab-uhth ]

noun

1. the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as the day of rest and religious observance among Jews and some Christians.
2. the Sabbath, the first day of the week, Sunday, observed by most Christians as a day of public worship and often of rest.
3. any special day of prayer, worship, or rest.
4. Often sabbath. a day or other period of rest or break from certain forms of activity:

   If people gave themselves a weekly sabbath from electronic devices, it would probably cure many ills.

5. Sometimes sabbath. Sabbat ( def 2 ).

Sabbath

/ ˈsæbəθ /

noun

1. the seventh day of the week, Saturday, devoted to worship and rest from work in Judaism and in certain Christian Churches
2. Sunday, observed by Christians as the day of worship and rest from work in commemoration of Christ's Resurrection
3. not capital a period of rest
4. Also calledsabbatwitches' Sabbath a midnight meeting or secret rendezvous for practitioners of witchcraft, sorcery, or devil worship

Sabbath

1. The holy day of rest and reflection observed each Saturday among the Jews . This custom fulfills the fourth of the Ten Commandments (“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”). The Sabbath commemorates the last of the seven days of Creation as described in the Book of Genesis , the day God rested from his labors of creating the heavens and the Earth .

Notes

Christians have traditionally kept Sunday as a weekly day of rest in adaptation of the Jewish observance, and in commemoration of the Resurrection of Jesus . Some denominations, such as the Seventh-Day Adventists , observe Saturday as the Sabbath.

Other Words From

• Sab·bath·less adjective
• Sab·bath·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sabbath¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English sabat, sabadt, sabath, Old English sabat, from Latin sabbatum, from Greek sábbaton, from Hebrew shabbāth “rest”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sabbath¹

Old English sabbat, from Latin sabbatum, from Greek sabbaton, from Hebrew shabbāth, from shābath to rest

Example Sentences

According the Bible's Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is a spiritual time for worship and rest from work and play.

From BBC

Once the family settled in Pasadena, Alex and Eddie soon discovered the wonders of guitar-driven rock and roll — Cream, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath — and a new vista opened up to them.

From Los Angeles Times

There is also a bench in the band’s honour on the renamed Black Sabbath Bridge over the canal on Broad Street.

From BBC

The island, which has a population of about 20,000, has a long tradition of observing the Sabbath day, meaning that some shops - including both supermarkets - currently keep their doors closed on a Sunday.

From BBC

Israel had been on edge all Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, after word emerged that the bodies of several hostages had been recovered by Israeli troops.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• day off
• rest day