ENGLISH
REFERENCE

midsummer

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmɪdˈsəmɝ// UK //mˈɪdsʌmɐ// mid·sum·mer

n. the middle of summer, or the time around the longest day of the year. In many cultures, people celebrate this time with festivals and outdoor parties.

n. the period of time in the middle of summer, specifically the summer solstice or the days surrounding it. Often associated with traditional festivals and folk celebrations in Northern Europe.


SIMPLE

The village holds a large bonfire every midsummer.

CONTEXTUAL

During midsummer in the Arctic Circle, the sun never fully sets below the horizon.

COMPLEX

The play captures the dreamlike atmosphere of a midsummer night, where the boundaries between the human world and the supernatural realm seem to blur under the pale moonlight.

Origin

From Middle English midsomer, midsumer, from Old English midsumer, midsumor (“midsummer”), from Proto-West Germanic midisumar, from Proto-Germanic midjasumaraz (“midsummer”), equivalent to mid- + summer. Cognate with West Frisian midsimmer (“midsummer”), Dutch midzomer (“midsummer”), German Mittsommer (“midsummer”), Danish midsommer (“midsummer”), Swedish midsommar (“midsummer”), Icelandic miðsumar (“midsummer”).

Usage

Often used as a modifier before other nouns, such as 'midsummer sun' or 'midsummer festival'.

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