Michaelmas
/ˈmaɪ.kəl.məs/noun
The feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, observed on September 29 in the Western Christian calendar.
Did you know?Michaelmas marks the feast of Saint Michael, whose name in Hebrew means “Who is like God?”—a rhetorical challenge that turned into one of Christianity’s most iconic celestial battle-cries.
Etymological Timeline
Hebrew (ancient)
Hebrew
Mīkhā'ēl
““Who is like God?”; the archangel’s name”
Late Latin
Latin
mīchaēlis
“of Michael”
Old English
English
Mīchahelmæsse
“Michael’s Mass; the feast of Saint Michael”
Middle English
English
Michelmasse
“Feast of Saint Michael”
Modern English
English
Michaelmas
“The feast day of Saint Michael, September 29”