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Glite Dictionary
Fast of Av

Fast of Av

9.9
A major Jewish fast on the ninth day of Av that remembers the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem
  • noun
translation icon : Ayuno de Av
  • On the Fast of Av, it is customary to refrain from eating and drinking for 25 hours.

Examples

  • The synagogue was somber during the reading of Lamentations on the Fast of Av.

  • Many Jews observe the Fast of Av as a day of mourning and prayer.

  • The Fast of Av is observed by many Jews worldwide.

  • Many people fast during the Fast of Av each year.

  • Many Jews observe the Fast of Av as a day of mourning and prayer.

  • On the Fast of Av, it is customary to refrain from eating and drinking for 25 hours.

  • The synagogue was somber during the reading of Lamentations on the Fast of Av.

Synonyms

Tishah b'Av
vsFast of Av
9.9

A Jewish day when people fast and mourn for the destruction of the Jerusalem temples

is observed on a fixed ninth day in the Jewish month rather than ritual focus
Tisha b'Av
vsFast of Av
9.9

A day when Jewish people fast and mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem

is fixed to the ninth day of the Jewish month rather than describing rituals
Tisha B'Av
vsFast of Av
9.9

A Jewish fast day to remember the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem

is observed on a specific ninth day rather than a general calendar entry
Tishah b'Ab
vsFast of Av
9.9

A day when Jewish people fast and mourn the destruction of the ancient temples in Jerusalem

is fixed to the ninth day of the month instead of a general remembrance
Ninth of Ab
vsFast of Av
9.9

A major Jewish fast day when people mourn the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem

is observed on a fixed ninth day rather than only being a mourning day
Ninth of Av
vsFast of Av
9.9

A major Jewish day when people do not eat or drink to remember when the temples in Jerusalem were destroyed

is observed on the ninth day of the Jewish month rather than a generic fast
Fast of Ab
vsFast of Av
9.9

A major Jewish day when people do not eat to remember when the temples were destroyed in Jerusalem

is fixed to the ninth day of the Jewish month not just a general fast

Surface Forms

Fast of Av singular

Morphology

fast + of + Av

A learner who knows 'fast' and the month name 'Av' can transparently infer that this denotes a fast that occurs in the month of Av, so the basic locative/compositional meaning is clear. However, the specific cultural significance (a major communal fast commemorating the destruction of the temples and fixed to the ninth of Av) is encyclopedic rather than derivable from the words alone, so the expression is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Fast of Av is a Jewish day that remembers the destruction of the Jerusalem temples long ago. The word Fast means 'to go without food' and Av is the name of the month, and on the ninth day of Av people do not eat or drink and pray, so the name means a day of mourning and remembrance.