Sabbath

[ sab-uh th ]
/ ˈsæb əθ /

noun

the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as the day of rest and religious observance among Jews and some Christians. Ex. 20:8–11.
the first day of the week, Sunday, similarly observed by most Christians in commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ.
any special day of prayer or rest resembling the Sabbath: Friday is the Muslim Sabbath.
(sometimes lowercase) a period of rest.
(sometimes lowercase) Demonology. Sabbat.

Origin of Sabbath

before 900; Middle English, variant of sabbat, Old English < Latin sabbatum < Greek sábbaton < Hebrew shabbāth rest

SYNONYMS FOR Sabbath

2 See Sunday.

OTHER WORDS FROM Sabbath

Sab·bath·less, adjective Sab·bath·like, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for sabbath

British Dictionary definitions for sabbath

Sabbath
/ (ˈsæbəθ) /

noun

the seventh day of the week, Saturday, devoted to worship and rest from work in Judaism and in certain Christian Churches
Sunday, observed by Christians as the day of worship and rest from work in commemoration of Christ's Resurrection
(not capital) a period of rest
Also called: sabbat, witches' Sabbath a midnight meeting or secret rendezvous for practitioners of witchcraft, sorcery, or devil worship

Word Origin for Sabbath

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

Cultural definitions for sabbath

Sabbath

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 for Sabbath

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.