Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Whitsuntide

Whitsuntide

9.9
A week that begins on Pentecost in the Christian church, often with holidays and fairs
  • noun
  • /ˈwɪtsənˌtaɪd/
  • UK
translation icon : semana de Pentecostés
  • Now, that might consist of her permission for the man to kiss her on the back of the neck once every Whitsuntide, you know, something like that—or it may be a full giving in love.

Examples

  • "That included Whitsuntide when they used to make Mrs. Greene a present of a guinea for a pound of tea."

    Academic text (2007)

  • Sandals at Whitsuntide, and that sort of thing.

    Funny Cow (2018)

  • Many families gather to celebrate Whitsuntide with special church services and festive meals.

  • Our community has a parade every year during Whitsuntide, attracting visitors from nearby towns.

  • Children look forward to playing in the park during Whitsuntide when schools are closed for the holiday.

Synonyms

Whitweek
vsWhitsuntide
  • UK
9.9

A week that begins on Whitsunday with church services and local celebrations

is the general holiday week rather than the narrowly traditional observance
Whitsun
vsWhitsuntide
  • UK
9.9

A week starting with Whitsunday when Christians celebrate Pentecost

is used for the broader holiday week, not only the festival focus

Surface Forms

Whitsuntide singular
Whitsuntides plural

Morphology

Whitsuntide = Whitsun + tide (semi-transparent) = whitsun + tide

Formally a compound Whitsun + tide whose components indicate a season related to Whitsunday, but both elements are archaic/religious and '-tide' as 'season' is not productive for most learners.

Etymology

Whitsuntide comes from Whitsun ('white Sunday') and -tide ('time' or 'season'). The 'white' part reminds us that new Christians often wore white at baptism, so Whitsuntide is the week or season that starts on Whitsunday, known as Pentecost.