Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The 14th of Adar, observed in celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from massacre by Haman.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An annual festival observed by the Jews on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar (about the 1st of March).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A Jewish festival, called also the Feast of Lots, instituted to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from the machinations of Haman.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun Judaism A Jewish festival, celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, commemorating the deliverance of the Persian Jews from a massacre.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (Judaism) a Jewish holy day commemorating their deliverance from massacre by Haman

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Hebrew pûrîm, pl. of pûr, lot (from the lots Haman cast to decide the day of the massacre, Esther 9:24–26), from Akkadian pūru, lot.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Hebrew פורים (literally "lots").

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Examples

  • Oded Balilty/Associated Press PURIM PRAYERS: Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men gathered to celebrate Purim in Bnei Brak, Israel, Tuesday.

    Today's Photos: March 10 2009

  • The day of the slaughter was determined by casting lots, hence the name Purim from pur, or “lot.”

    Celebration Breads BETSY OPPENNEER 2003

  • The day of the slaughter was determined by casting lots, hence the name Purim from pur, or “lot.”

    Celebration Breads BETSY OPPENNEER 2003

  • The day of the slaughter was determined by casting lots, hence the name Purim from pur, or “lot.”

    Celebration Breads BETSY OPPENNEER 2003

  • Pesach, Pesach a la mano which in the Ladino language means that Purim is over and Passover is approaching.

    Pesach Cake With Walnuts « Baking History 2008

  • Pesach, Pesach a la mano which in the Ladino language means that Purim is over and Passover is approaching.

    2008 April « Baking History 2008

  • Besides these three great festivals, certain minor ones were observed by the Hebrews: The word Purim is probably of Persian origin

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2: Assizes-Browne 1840-1916 1913

  • So instead I'm acknowledging my own heritage of early spring carnival, aka Purim and wishing you all very happy couple of days of dressing up, drinking and making noise.

    Archive 2009-03-01 Ayala Sender 2009

  • So instead I'm acknowledging my own heritage of early spring carnival, aka Purim and wishing you all very happy couple of days of dressing up, drinking and making noise.

    Happy Purim! Ayala Sender 2009

  • Esther responsible for the name Purim, but this theory is refuted by the "Mêgillah Ta’anith" (second century, a.d.), where 13 Adar is still called "Nicanor Day".

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 12: Philip II-Reuss 1840-1916 1913

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