festival

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfes.tɪ.vᵊl/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English festival,^[2] first an adjective,^[3] borrowed from Old French festival (“suitable for a feast; solemn, joyful”) and directly from Medieval Latin festīvālis (“of a church holiday”),^[4][3] from Latin festīvus (“festive”),^[2][3] from festum (“festival, holiday”), plural festa, neuter of festus (“of a feast”).^[4][3] It is related to feast, festive and fête.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adjective, of or befitting a feast day: the 14th century in the OED and Merriam-Webster.^[6][2] Festival day is from the late 14th century.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The noun, a festal day appointed for celebration, is from the 1580s, a shortening of festival day;^[4] the OED's first example is from 1589.^[6] The adjective's sense “glad, joyful” (1592) is obsolete.^[6] A series of musical performances recurring at intervals is from 1857,^[6] and an American fair from 1869.^[6] Before the Reformation a festival was also a book of sermons for the feast days.^[6] The English word returned to French in the 19th century in certain specialised senses.^[4]

Timeline

• 14th century – adjective, of a feast day.^[6][2]
• late 14th century – festival day.^[4]
• 1491 – a book of sermons for feasts.^[6]
• 1589 – noun, a festal day.^[6]
• 1857 – a music festival.^[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A day or time of celebration, especially a recurring religious one.
2. A series of cultural events, such as concerts or films, held regularly: a film festival.
3. Revelry; merrymaking.

Adjective

1. Of or suitable for a feast; festive.

Word family

• festivalgoer
• prefestival

Related words

• festal
• festive
• festivity
• feast
• fête
• fiesta
• festoon

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
3. ^ a b c d Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press