xmas
/ˈkɹɪs.məs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.25 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "In ye Xmas and Whitsuntide Vacations, ye Scholars study at a rate of an hour and a Quarter each day & all yt go home have proportionable Tasks set them..."
- "A thousand thanks, merry Xmasses & happy New Years to you for yʳ delightful letter: […]"
- "On Xmas Day I breakfasted with Davy, with the intention of dining with you..."
- "[…]but if you won't come here before Xmas, I very much fear we shall not meet here at all[…]"
- "My dear Wilkie,—we will arrange our Xmas No., please God, under the shade of the Oak Trees."
- "I should be very glad if you could help me in fixing on a name for my fairy-tale, which Mr. Tenniel (in consequence of your kind introduction) is now illustrating for me, and which I hope to get published before Xmas."
Etymology
Attested in this form since 1755, and preceded by earlier forms such as X'temmas (1551) and Old English Χp̃es mæssa (1100), from Cristes mæsse, with abbreviation of Cristes by the symbol X, orthographic borrowing from Ancient Greek Χ (Kh, letter chi), from Χριστός (Khristós, “Christ”). By surface analysis, X (“Christ”) + -mas (“holiday”). In popular use since late 19th century. See Wikipedia for more information.
Origin
- Source language: Old English
Word Breakdown
- Root: Χp̃es mæssa