vacation English · revision 5472

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1386|origins=la vacāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /vəˈkeɪ.ʃən/, US /veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/, /vəˈkeɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|vacacioun]], [[bor|frm|vacation]] and directly from [[la|vacātiō|t=freedom, exemption, immunity]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from the past participle of [[m|la|vacāre|t=to be empty, free, at leisure]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Cresswell 2021) It is related to [[vacant]], [[vacancy]] and [[vacate]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Freedom or rest from some occupation: about 1386 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ People in the Middle Ages had no holidays in the modern sense; vacation was simply freedom from work.^(Cresswell 2021) The meanings “state of being unoccupied” and “vacating” are from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) A formal suspension of activity, the time between terms when law courts and universities close, is from about 1456.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) As the American word for a holiday it is from 1878.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb, to take a vacation, is from 1866.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – rest from work.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1456 – the time when courts or universities close.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1866 – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1878 – a holiday (US).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(chiefly US)'' A period of rest from work or study, often spent travelling; a [[holiday]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A period when [[university|alt=universities]] or law courts are closed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of leaving a place or giving up a position.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(chiefly US)'' To take a holiday.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vacationer]]

+ * [[vacationless]]

+ * [[minivacation]]

+ * [[prevacation]]

+ * [[vacationist]]

+ * [[vacationland]]

+ * [[long vacation]]

+ * [[Vacation Bible School]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vacate]]

+ * [[vacant]]

+ * [[vacancy]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In North America vacation is the usual word for time off work, while a holiday is usually a particular public holiday such as Thanksgiving; in Britain holiday covers both.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}