Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

michaelmas

/ˈmɪkəlməs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.29 in modern English

Syllables: michael-mas
IPA: /ˈmɪkəlməs/

19

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

name

A Christian feast celebrated on the 29th of September in honour of the archangel Michael.

name

Ellipsis of Michaelmas term.

British usage

Example Sentences

"To make Capons […] [S]ome for this Purpoſe make it their Buſineſs after Harveſt-time to go to Markets for buying up Chickens, and between Michaelmas and All-hollantide caponize the Cocks, when they have got large enough to have Stones [i.e., testes] of ſuch a Bigneſs that they may be pulled out; for if they are too little, it can't be done; […]"

Etymology

From Middle English Michelmasse, Myghelmesse; equivalent to Michael + -mas.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: Michelmasse
Suffix: Michael

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈmɪkəlməs/
British English: /ˈmɪkəlməs/

Usage

British usage

Inflected Forms

Michaelmases (plural) Mihilmas (alternative, obsolete)

Phrases

Michaelmas blackbird Michaelmas daisy Michaelmas term Old Michaelmas Day

Synonyms

Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels michaelmas day september 29

Questions

How do you pronounce michaelmas?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmɪkəlməs/.
What does michaelmas mean?: A Christian feast celebrated on the 29th of September in honour of the archangel Michael.
Where does michaelmas come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce michaelmas

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “michaelmas”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈmɪkəlməs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “michaelmas”.
Repeat and practice — Say “michaelmas” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.