Halloween - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: Halloween

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Hal·low·een

Audio Help [hal-uh-ween, -oh-een, hol-] Pronunciation Key

–noun

the evening of October 31; the eve of All Saints' Day; Allhallows Eve: observed esp. by children in costumes who solicit treats, often by threatening minor pranks.

Also, Hal·low·e'en.

[Origin: 1550–60; (All)hallow(s) + e(v)en²

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Halloween

To learn more about Halloween visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Hal·low·een also Hal·low·e'en Audio Help (hāl'ə-wēn', hŏl'-) Pronunciation Key
n. October 31, celebrated in the United States, Canada, and the British Isles by children going door to door while wearing costumes and begging treats and playing pranks.

[Short for All Hallow Even : Allhallow(mas) + even².]

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Halloween

c.1745, Scottish shortening of Allhallow-even "Eve of All Saints, last night of October" (1556), the last night of the year in the old Celtic calendar, where it was Old Year's Night, a night for witches. Another pagan holiday given a cursory baptism and sent on its way. Hallowmas "All-saints" is first attested 1389.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

halloween
noun
the evening before All Saints' Day; often devoted to pranks played by young people

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Halloween [ˈhalouˌiːn] noun

a Christian festival on 31 Oct., when children dress up and play ``trick or treat!''

Arabic:	عيد جَميع القِدّيسين
Chinese (Simplified):	万圣节
Chinese (Traditional):	万圣節
Czech:	Halloween
Danish:	allehelgensaften
Estonian:	kõikide pühakute päeva eelõhtu
Greek:	γιορτή των Αγίων Πάντων
Hungarian:	mindenszentek előestéje

Indonesian:	malam menjelang perayaan 1 November
Italian:	Halloween
Latvian:	Visu svēto dienas priekšvakars
Russian:	канун Дня всех святых
Slovak:	Halloween
Spanish:	víspera de Todos los Santos
Swedish:	motsv dagen före allhelgonadagen
Turkish:	Azizler günü arefesi (31 Ekim), hortlak gecesi