Wednesdayn.adv.

Brit.

/ˈwɛnzdeɪ/,

/ˈwɛnzdi/, U.S.

/ˈwɛnzˌdeɪ/,

/ˈwɛnzdi/

Forms:

α. Old English Wodnesdæg, Old English Wodnesdoeg (Northumbrian), Old English Wodnessdæg, late Old English Wodenesdei, late Old English Wodnes dægge (dative), late Old English Wodnesdæig, late Old English Wodnesdeg, late Old English Wodnesdeig, late Old English Wodnosdæg, late Old English–early Middle English Wodnesdei, early Middle English Wodnesdæȝ, early Middle English Wodnesdawes (plural), Middle English Wodeinsday, Middle English Wodenesday, Middle English Wodenisday, Middle English Wodenysday, Middle English Wodinsdai, Middle English Wodnesday, Middle English Wodnysday, Middle English–1500s Wodensday, 1500s Wodinsday; Scottish pre-1700 Vodenisday, pre-1700 Vodinsday, pre-1700 Vodnisday, pre-1700 Vodynnis day, pre-1700 Voidinisday, pre-1700 Woddinnesdaye, pre-1700 Woddinnisday, pre-1700 Woddinsday, pre-1700 Woddnesday, pre-1700 Woddynsday, pre-1700 Wodenisday, pre-1700 Wodinsday, pre-1700 Wodnisday, 1800s–1900s Wodensday; N.E.D. (1926) also records a form late Middle English Wodinsday.

β. early Middle English Wednesdei, early Middle English Weodnesdei, Middle English Weddenesday, Middle English Weddensdaye, Middle English Weddynisday, Middle English Wedenesday, Middle English Wedenisdai, Middle English Wedenysday, Middle English Wednesdai, Middle English Wednesseday, Middle English Wednysdaye, Middle English Wedonesday, Middle English 1600s Wedensday, Middle English–1500s Wedinsday, Middle English–1500s Wednysday, Middle English–1500s Wedynsday, Middle English–1600s Wednisday, Middle English– Wednesday, late Middle English Weddysday, 1500s Weddinsday, 1500s Weddynsday, 1500s Wedensdaye, 1500s Wedenysdaye, 1500s Wednesdaie, 1500s Wednisdaye, 1500s Wednsdaye, 1500s Wedynsdaye, 1500s–1600s Wednesdaye, 1600s Weddensday, 1700s Wedonsday; Scottish pre-1700 Vadinsday, pre-1700 Vadynisday, pre-1700 Veddensday, pre-1700 Veddnesday, pre-1700 Veddnsday, pre-1700 Veddyinsday, pre-1700 Veddynisday, pre-1700 Vedenysday, pre-1700 Vedinnisday, pre-1700 Vedinsday, pre-1700 Vednesday, pre-1700 Vednisday, pre-1700 Vednysday, pre-1700 Waddinsday, pre-1700 Wadinesday, pre-1700 Wadinsdaye, pre-1700 Wadnysdaye, pre-1700 Weddansday, pre-1700 Weddensday, pre-1700 Weddenseday, pre-1700 Weddinisday, pre-1700 Weddinissday, pre-1700 Weddinsday, pre-1700 Weddnesday, pre-1700 Weddnysday, pre-1700 Weddynisday, pre-1700 Weddynnisday, pre-1700 Wedenisdaye, pre-1700 Wedinday, pre-1700 Wedinsday, pre-1700 Wednisday, pre-1700 Wednysday, pre-1700 Wedynnisda, pre-1700 Wedynsday, pre-1700 Wedynysday, pre-1700 Widinsday, pre-1700 1700s Wadinsday, pre-1700 1700s– Wednesday, pre-1700 1800s– Wadnesday, 1700s Wedensday, 1700s Wednsday, 1700s Wednsdy, 1700s– Wadensday, 1800s Wadnsday, 1800s Wedsinday, 1900s– Wadsday; N.E.D. (1926) also records forms Middle English Wedonesdai, late Middle English Weddynsday.

γ. early Middle English Wendesdei, Middle English Wendesdai, Middle English Wendesday, Middle English Wendesdaye, Middle English Wendisday, Middle English Wendisdaye, 1900s– Wensdeh (English regional (Yorkshire)); Scottish pre-1700 Wandisday, pre-1700 Wendinsday, pre-1700 Wendisday, pre-1700 1700s Wendsday; N.E.D. (1926) also records a form late Middle English Wyndenesse day.

δ. Middle English Vennysday, Middle English Wannysday, Middle English Wanysday, Middle English Wennessday, Middle English Wenstay, Middle English Wenysday, Middle English Wonnysday, Middle English Wonysday, Middle English–1500s Wenesday, Middle English–1500s Wennesday, Middle English–1500s Wennysday, Middle English–1600s Wensdaie, Middle English–1600s Wensdaye, Middle English–1700s Wensday, late Middle English Whenys day, late Middle English Wonesday, late Middle English Wonesdaye, 1500s Wennisday, 1500s Wennsday, 1500s Wensdye, 1600s Weansday, 1800s Wennesdei (Irish English (Wexford)); Scottish pre-1700 1700s– Wensday, 1700s– Wansday; N.E.D. (1926) also records a form Middle English Wannesdai.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic; modelled on a Latin lexical item.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian, wednesdei , wernisdei , wensdei , wōnsdei , wornisdei , etc. (North Frisian weensdi , weensdai , West Frisian wênsdei , woansdei ), Middle Low German wōdensdach , woensdach , gōdensdach , Middle Dutch woensdach , wenesdach (Dutch woensdag ) < the genitive of the Germanic base of the name of the god Woden (see note) + the Germanic base of day n., after classical Latin diēs Mercuriī day of (the planet) Mercury (frequently in post-classical Latin, from c1115 in British sources). Compare Hellenistic Greek Ἑρμοῦ ἡμέρα (probably after Latin). Compare post-classical Latin dies Wodenis (a1142 in a British source). Compare also Old Icelandic Óðinsdagr, Old Swedish oþinsdagher, odensdagher, onsdagher (Swedish onsdag), Old Danish othensdag, onsdag (Danish onsdag), apparently after forms in West Germanic languages.The Latin days of the week in imperial Rome were named after the planets, which in turn were named after gods (see discussion at week n.). In most cases the Germanic names have substituted for the Roman god's name that of a comparable one from the Germanic pantheon. The identification of Woden, the highest god of the Germanic pantheon, with the Roman Mercury is already suggested in Tacitus, although he does not give a Germanic name (Deorum maxime Mercurium colunt , ‘they worship Mercury most of all the gods’, Germania 9); common features between these gods include eloquence, swiftness, range of travel, and guardianship of the dead. Compare also quot. OE¹ at sense A. and the following gloss: eOE Corpus Gloss. (1890) 78/2 Mercurium, woden. The name of Woden (Old English Wōden , Old Saxon Wōden , Old High German Wuotan , Old Icelandic Óðinn ) derives < the Germanic base of wood adj. + a nasal suffix. Compare ( < classical Latin diēs Mercuriī ) Old French, Middle French, French mercredi (1119 in Anglo-Norman as mercresdi ), Old Occitan dimercres , dimecres , mercres (13th cent.; Occitan dimècres , mècres ), Catalan dimecres (mid 13th cent.), Spanish miercoles (late 12th cent.), Italian mercoledì (a1348). In German the day appears to have been called ‘midweek’ at all periods (see midweek n.), although for most other days (except Saturday) translations of the classical Latin names were adopted in parallel with the other West Germanic languages. The vowel of the first syllable in the β. forms is unexplained. The apparent parallels in Frisian and in Middle Dutch perhaps suggest that it may reflect variation in West Germanic; if so, perhaps compare the variant -in (causing i-mutation) of the suffix -en of the past participle of strong verbs (see -en suffix⁶, and compare -en suffix⁴). The variant of the god's name is also evidenced in English place names, such as Wensley , Derbyshire (1212 or earlier as Wednesleg ; earlier as Wodnesleie (1086)), Wednesbury , Staffordshire (1227 as Wednesbiri ; earlier as Wadnesberie (1086), Wodnesberia (1166)), and Wednesfield , Staffordshire (1251 as Wednesfeld ; earlier as Wodnesfelde (1086)). The γ. forms show metathesis of the consonant cluster -dn- . The δ. forms, which are first attested in the late 14th cent., show both the loss of -d- and (at least in some instances) the contracted (disyllabic) pronunciation characteristic of modern standard English. The early modern orthoepists record pronunciations both with and (more frequently) without /d/. The pronunciation /ˈwɛd(ə)nzdeɪ/ survives in English regional use (northern and north midland) and in some varieties of Scots. In use as adverb in sense B. 1 originally (in Old English) the dative of the noun used adverbially.

A. n.

The day following Tuesday and preceding Thursday, traditionally regarded as the fourth day of the week, but now frequently considered as the third.In the Catholic Church, Wednesday, along with Friday and Saturday, has traditionally been observed as one of the days for abstaining from eating meat, fish being the popular alternative.Ash-, Good, Holy, Pulver, Spy Wednesday, etc.: see the first element.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > period > a day or twenty-four hours > specific days > [noun] > Wednesday

WednesnightOE

WednesdayOE

Fourth-day1697

hump day1959

OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) ii. iii. 118 Þæs Sunnandæges nama wæs of þære sunnan,..and Wodnesdæges of Mercurio Maia sunu.

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) iii. 1 (rubric) Ðys sceal on wodnesdæg on þære þryddan wucan ær myddanwyntra.

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1123 Þa tidde hit on an Wodnesdei..þet se king rad in his derfald.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) l. 798 (MED) Þet wes on a Weodnesdei [c1225 Royal wodnes dei, a1250 Titus wednes dei] þet ha þus wende, martir, to þe murhðes þe neauer ne wonieð.

c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) l. 6950 Tydea we ȝefue tisdei, Woden we ȝefue Wendesdei [c1275 Calig. þene feorðe dæi i þere wike].

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 2432 Mercurius..in vre tonge woden icluped is..of þe wouke þen verþe day In oure tonge ycluped in hononour [read honour] of him is wodnes day [v.rr. Wednesday, Wodenesday, Wedonesday, Wensdaye].

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 22 (note) Luna Monenday Mars Tisday Mercurius Wednesday.

?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 3411 On a wedensday he fell seke.

a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 206 The wonysday Afore wytsonday.

a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 40 Yche Wenysday and Fryday, he made hys confessour bete hym wyth a ȝarde apon þe backe al bare.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxviii. 235 On a wednysday they came to Parys.

1562–3 Act 5 Eliz. c. 5 §11 Every Wednesdaye..which heretofore hathe not by the Lawes or Customes of this Realme bene used and observed as a Fishe Daye..shalbe hereafter observed and kepte as the Saterdays in every Weeke bee or ought to be.

1574 Brieff Disc. Troubles Franckford p. xl The nexte daie beinge wensdaie.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. iii. 61 I look'd vpon him a Wensday halfe an houre together.

1639 T. Hope Diary (1843) 100 On 3 July, Weddinsday, wes the tumult of women in Edinburgh.

a1681 G. Wharton Fasts & Festivals in Wks. (1683) 30 The Ember Weeks..are four..and anciently Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, in each Fasted.

1716 J. Gay Trivia ii. 40 Wednesdays and Fridays you'll observe from hence, Days, when our Sires were doom'd to Abstinence.

1741 E. F. Haywood Anti-Pamela 17 He would not let me go till I had promised to meet him on Wednesday at the same Place.

1774 London Mag. Jan. 49/2 Last Wednesday was committed to Our Castle, Richard Falkner, a shoemaker, for robbing and attempting to murder Mr. John Bird.

1822 G. Downes Lett. from Mecklenburg 173 The evening of Wednesday was a gloomy one.

1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 448/1 The annual meeting of this association will be held on the first Wednesday of December, 1877.

1905 ‘G. Thorne’ Lost Cause ii Wait till you see my leader in Wednesday's issue.

1951 I. Shaw Troubled Air x. 165 Mary Lowell called to ask us..for dinner next Wednesday.

2005 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 1 May v. 16/2 The smoked pork ribs on Monday or trout on Wednesday are can't-misses.

B. adv.

1. On Wednesday; last Wednesday; next Wednesday. Now chiefly North American.With the Wednesday cf. the adj. 2.

ΚΠ

OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Festivals for Mark in W. W. Skeat Gospel St. Mark (1871) 5 Post penticosten in ieiunium feria iiii cottidiana : æfter fifteigdæg fæstern wodnes doege doeghwæmlice.

OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) xxxiii. 239 Fram sancte Iohannes gebyrdtide oð sancte Martinus forðsið ealswa eton tuwa on dæg, and wodnesdæge and frigedæge forgan flæsc.

c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 38 Euche fridei of þe ȝer haldeð silence,..I þe aduenz & i þe umbriwiken, weodnesdei [a1250 Nero wodnesdawes; a1400 Pepys Wedenysday] & fridei.

c1444 Paston Lett. (1976) ii. 14 Wretyn right symply þe Wednesseday next to-fore þe fest of the Purificacion of Oure Lady.

a1500 (c1465) in J. Gairdner Three 15th-cent. Chrons. (1880) 26 (MED) In the same yere, the xxj daye of May, was the erthequake, the Wenesday a for Witsonday.

1785 G. Van Cortlandt Let. 21 Oct. in J. Judd Corr. Van Cortlandt Family (1977) 503 We got in Town Wednesday 1 Oclock had a very agreeable Passage.

1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility III. ii. 41 It all came out, how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley-street.

1948 R. Stout And be Villain xvi. 133 In the office after lunch Wednesday I made a remark to that effect to Wolfe.

1978 Washington Post 19 Nov. f2/2 Its four holiday stamps..showing carol singers through the ages will go on sale Wednesday.

1989 A. Aird 1990 Good Pub Guide 231 The pub fields six teams, Monday, Wednesday and Friday in winter.

2. In plural. On Wednesdays; each Wednesday.

ΚΠ

a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 30 Eueriche urideie of ðe ȝer, holdeð silence,..iþen aduent & iþe umbridawes, wodnesdawes [?c1225 Cleo. wednesdei, c1230 Corpus Cambr. weodnesdei] & fridawes.

1616 State Papers Earl of Melrose (1837) I. 258 Monnondayes, Wednisdayes, and Frydayes.

1685 J. Crowne Sir Courtly Nice i. 5 I'le make you keep Lent, and fast Wednesdays and Fridays.

a1777 S. Foote Trip to Calais (1778) iii. 70 An express stipulation, that all connubial intercourse should be suspended Wednesdays and Fridays.

1869 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Folks xxii. 268 All alone in the old house, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and all days, Tina gaped and nestled.

1907 K. D. Wiggin Old Peabody Pew i. 25 We wash and hang out Mondays, iron Tuesdays, cook Wednesdays,..and go to meetin' Sundays.

2002 Providence (Rhode Island) Jrnl.-Bull. (Nexis) 12 Apr. c2 Since his announcement, he has worked Wednesdays by appointment only.

Compounds

General attributive, as Wednesday morning, Wednesday night, etc.

ΚΠ

a1350 St. Thomas Becket (Ashm.) (1919) Wendesday niȝt [c1300 Harl. The morwe upe Seint Lukes dai—Tuesdai hit was tho—He departede fram the Kinges court... Thane Wendesdai aniȝt out of the toun he nom; Sone amorwe thane Thursdai to Lincolne he com].

a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 423 Bigynnynge first at þe Wednesdai gospel in þe firste woke of Advent bifore Cristemasse.

1586 Treat. against Def. of Censure Bks. W. Charke & M. Hanmer i. 335 He alledgeth not onely a decree of the Apostles, but also the consent of all the world, for the wednesdaie fast, as well as the Fridaie fast.

1590 Cobler of Caunterburie sig. B4 On wednesday morning when the Scull shoulde goe for his cleane linnen, the Prior compounded with him..to keepe his counsaile.

1650 in Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS: Var. Coll. (1907) IV. 241 The defrayinge of the chardge for the Wensdaye lecture.

1673 S'too him Bayes 100 To your long business about the Clause to the Wednesday Act, and its binding the Conscience or no, I answer, [etc.].

1704 D. Defoe Storm iii. 25 On the Wednesday Morning before..it was fair Weather, and blew hard.

1768 J. Nassau Mem. Two Young Gentlemen xii. 227 The Wednesday afternoon before he died, most of the young gentlemen who had been his former intimate companions..came to visit him.

1819 Lady Morgan in Passages from Autobiogr. (1859) 304 Several of my liberal Wednesday-evening guests have been made peers.

1848 C. Dickens Dombey & Son liii. 530 My Wednesday nights came regularly round.

1883 D. C. Murray Hearts vii They're going to play my ‘Dream of Venice’ at Hoffmann's Wednesday Concerts.

1926 J. Galsworthy Silver Spoon i. vi. 40 A surprise for the coming Session is being confectioned at the Wednesday gathering of a young hostess.

2000 Sunday Times 23 July (Sports section) 10/4 His decision to put Sussex in first on Wednesday morning was met with more than one raised eyebrow.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	wednesday
释义	Wednesdayn.adv. Brit. /ˈwɛnzdeɪ/, /ˈwɛnzdi/, U.S. /ˈwɛnzˌdeɪ/, /ˈwɛnzdi/ Forms: α. Old English Wodnesdæg, Old English Wodnesdoeg (Northumbrian), Old English Wodnessdæg, late Old English Wodenesdei, late Old English Wodnes dægge (dative), late Old English Wodnesdæig, late Old English Wodnesdeg, late Old English Wodnesdeig, late Old English Wodnosdæg, late Old English–early Middle English Wodnesdei, early Middle English Wodnesdæȝ, early Middle English Wodnesdawes (plural), Middle English Wodeinsday, Middle English Wodenesday, Middle English Wodenisday, Middle English Wodenysday, Middle English Wodinsdai, Middle English Wodnesday, Middle English Wodnysday, Middle English–1500s Wodensday, 1500s Wodinsday; Scottish pre-1700 Vodenisday, pre-1700 Vodinsday, pre-1700 Vodnisday, pre-1700 Vodynnis day, pre-1700 Voidinisday, pre-1700 Woddinnesdaye, pre-1700 Woddinnisday, pre-1700 Woddinsday, pre-1700 Woddnesday, pre-1700 Woddynsday, pre-1700 Wodenisday, pre-1700 Wodinsday, pre-1700 Wodnisday, 1800s–1900s Wodensday; N.E.D. (1926) also records a form late Middle English Wodinsday. β. early Middle English Wednesdei, early Middle English Weodnesdei, Middle English Weddenesday, Middle English Weddensdaye, Middle English Weddynisday, Middle English Wedenesday, Middle English Wedenisdai, Middle English Wedenysday, Middle English Wednesdai, Middle English Wednesseday, Middle English Wednysdaye, Middle English Wedonesday, Middle English 1600s Wedensday, Middle English–1500s Wedinsday, Middle English–1500s Wednysday, Middle English–1500s Wedynsday, Middle English–1600s Wednisday, Middle English– Wednesday, late Middle English Weddysday, 1500s Weddinsday, 1500s Weddynsday, 1500s Wedensdaye, 1500s Wedenysdaye, 1500s Wednesdaie, 1500s Wednisdaye, 1500s Wednsdaye, 1500s Wedynsdaye, 1500s–1600s Wednesdaye, 1600s Weddensday, 1700s Wedonsday; Scottish pre-1700 Vadinsday, pre-1700 Vadynisday, pre-1700 Veddensday, pre-1700 Veddnesday, pre-1700 Veddnsday, pre-1700 Veddyinsday, pre-1700 Veddynisday, pre-1700 Vedenysday, pre-1700 Vedinnisday, pre-1700 Vedinsday, pre-1700 Vednesday, pre-1700 Vednisday, pre-1700 Vednysday, pre-1700 Waddinsday, pre-1700 Wadinesday, pre-1700 Wadinsdaye, pre-1700 Wadnysdaye, pre-1700 Weddansday, pre-1700 Weddensday, pre-1700 Weddenseday, pre-1700 Weddinisday, pre-1700 Weddinissday, pre-1700 Weddinsday, pre-1700 Weddnesday, pre-1700 Weddnysday, pre-1700 Weddynisday, pre-1700 Weddynnisday, pre-1700 Wedenisdaye, pre-1700 Wedinday, pre-1700 Wedinsday, pre-1700 Wednisday, pre-1700 Wednysday, pre-1700 Wedynnisda, pre-1700 Wedynsday, pre-1700 Wedynysday, pre-1700 Widinsday, pre-1700 1700s Wadinsday, pre-1700 1700s– Wednesday, pre-1700 1800s– Wadnesday, 1700s Wedensday, 1700s Wednsday, 1700s Wednsdy, 1700s– Wadensday, 1800s Wadnsday, 1800s Wedsinday, 1900s– Wadsday; N.E.D. (1926) also records forms Middle English Wedonesdai, late Middle English Weddynsday. γ. early Middle English Wendesdei, Middle English Wendesdai, Middle English Wendesday, Middle English Wendesdaye, Middle English Wendisday, Middle English Wendisdaye, 1900s– Wensdeh (English regional (Yorkshire)); Scottish pre-1700 Wandisday, pre-1700 Wendinsday, pre-1700 Wendisday, pre-1700 1700s Wendsday; N.E.D. (1926) also records a form late Middle English Wyndenesse day. δ. Middle English Vennysday, Middle English Wannysday, Middle English Wanysday, Middle English Wennessday, Middle English Wenstay, Middle English Wenysday, Middle English Wonnysday, Middle English Wonysday, Middle English–1500s Wenesday, Middle English–1500s Wennesday, Middle English–1500s Wennysday, Middle English–1600s Wensdaie, Middle English–1600s Wensdaye, Middle English–1700s Wensday, late Middle English Whenys day, late Middle English Wonesday, late Middle English Wonesdaye, 1500s Wennisday, 1500s Wennsday, 1500s Wensdye, 1600s Weansday, 1800s Wennesdei (Irish English (Wexford)); Scottish pre-1700 1700s– Wensday, 1700s– Wansday; N.E.D. (1926) also records a form Middle English Wannesdai. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic; modelled on a Latin lexical item. Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian, wednesdei , wernisdei , wensdei , wōnsdei , wornisdei , etc. (North Frisian weensdi , weensdai , West Frisian wênsdei , woansdei ), Middle Low German wōdensdach , woensdach , gōdensdach , Middle Dutch woensdach , wenesdach (Dutch woensdag ) < the genitive of the Germanic base of the name of the god Woden (see note) + the Germanic base of day n., after classical Latin diēs Mercuriī day of (the planet) Mercury (frequently in post-classical Latin, from c1115 in British sources). Compare Hellenistic Greek Ἑρμοῦ ἡμέρα (probably after Latin). Compare post-classical Latin dies Wodenis (a1142 in a British source). Compare also Old Icelandic Óðinsdagr, Old Swedish oþinsdagher, odensdagher, onsdagher (Swedish onsdag), Old Danish othensdag, onsdag (Danish onsdag), apparently after forms in West Germanic languages.The Latin days of the week in imperial Rome were named after the planets, which in turn were named after gods (see discussion at week n.). In most cases the Germanic names have substituted for the Roman god's name that of a comparable one from the Germanic pantheon. The identification of Woden, the highest god of the Germanic pantheon, with the Roman Mercury is already suggested in Tacitus, although he does not give a Germanic name (Deorum maxime Mercurium colunt , ‘they worship Mercury most of all the gods’, Germania 9); common features between these gods include eloquence, swiftness, range of travel, and guardianship of the dead. Compare also quot. OE¹ at sense A. and the following gloss: eOE Corpus Gloss. (1890) 78/2 Mercurium, woden. The name of Woden (Old English Wōden , Old Saxon Wōden , Old High German Wuotan , Old Icelandic Óðinn ) derives < the Germanic base of wood adj. + a nasal suffix. Compare ( < classical Latin diēs Mercuriī ) Old French, Middle French, French mercredi (1119 in Anglo-Norman as mercresdi ), Old Occitan dimercres , dimecres , mercres (13th cent.; Occitan dimècres , mècres ), Catalan dimecres (mid 13th cent.), Spanish miercoles (late 12th cent.), Italian mercoledì (a1348). In German the day appears to have been called ‘midweek’ at all periods (see midweek n.), although for most other days (except Saturday) translations of the classical Latin names were adopted in parallel with the other West Germanic languages. The vowel of the first syllable in the β. forms is unexplained. The apparent parallels in Frisian and in Middle Dutch perhaps suggest that it may reflect variation in West Germanic; if so, perhaps compare the variant -in (causing i-mutation) of the suffix -en of the past participle of strong verbs (see -en suffix⁶, and compare -en suffix⁴). The variant of the god's name is also evidenced in English place names, such as Wensley , Derbyshire (1212 or earlier as Wednesleg ; earlier as Wodnesleie (1086)), Wednesbury , Staffordshire (1227 as Wednesbiri ; earlier as Wadnesberie (1086), Wodnesberia (1166)), and Wednesfield , Staffordshire (1251 as Wednesfeld ; earlier as Wodnesfelde (1086)). The γ. forms show metathesis of the consonant cluster -dn- . The δ. forms, which are first attested in the late 14th cent., show both the loss of -d- and (at least in some instances) the contracted (disyllabic) pronunciation characteristic of modern standard English. The early modern orthoepists record pronunciations both with and (more frequently) without /d/. The pronunciation /ˈwɛd(ə)nzdeɪ/ survives in English regional use (northern and north midland) and in some varieties of Scots. In use as adverb in sense B. 1 originally (in Old English) the dative of the noun used adverbially. A. n. The day following Tuesday and preceding Thursday, traditionally regarded as the fourth day of the week, but now frequently considered as the third.In the Catholic Church, Wednesday, along with Friday and Saturday, has traditionally been observed as one of the days for abstaining from eating meat, fish being the popular alternative.Ash-, Good, Holy, Pulver, Spy Wednesday, etc.: see the first element. ΘΚΠ the world > time > period > a day or twenty-four hours > specific days > [noun] > Wednesday WednesnightOE WednesdayOE Fourth-day1697 hump day1959 OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) ii. iii. 118 Þæs Sunnandæges nama wæs of þære sunnan,..and Wodnesdæges of Mercurio Maia sunu. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) iii. 1 (rubric) Ðys sceal on wodnesdæg on þære þryddan wucan ær myddanwyntra. lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1123 Þa tidde hit on an Wodnesdei..þet se king rad in his derfald. c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) l. 798 (MED) Þet wes on a Weodnesdei [c1225 Royal wodnes dei, a1250 Titus wednes dei] þet ha þus wende, martir, to þe murhðes þe neauer ne wonieð. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) l. 6950 Tydea we ȝefue tisdei, Woden we ȝefue Wendesdei [c1275 Calig. þene feorðe dæi i þere wike]. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 2432 Mercurius..in vre tonge woden icluped is..of þe wouke þen verþe day In oure tonge ycluped in hononour [read honour] of him is wodnes day [v.rr. Wednesday, Wodenesday, Wedonesday, Wensdaye]. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 22 (note) Luna Monenday Mars Tisday Mercurius Wednesday. ?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 3411 On a wedensday he fell seke. a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 206 The wonysday Afore wytsonday. a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 40 Yche Wenysday and Fryday, he made hys confessour bete hym wyth a ȝarde apon þe backe al bare. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxviii. 235 On a wednysday they came to Parys. 1562–3 Act 5 Eliz. c. 5 §11 Every Wednesdaye..which heretofore hathe not by the Lawes or Customes of this Realme bene used and observed as a Fishe Daye..shalbe hereafter observed and kepte as the Saterdays in every Weeke bee or ought to be. 1574 Brieff Disc. Troubles Franckford p. xl The nexte daie beinge wensdaie. a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. iii. 61 I look'd vpon him a Wensday halfe an houre together. View more context for this quotation 1639 T. Hope Diary (1843) 100 On 3 July, Weddinsday, wes the tumult of women in Edinburgh. a1681 G. Wharton Fasts & Festivals in Wks. (1683) 30 The Ember Weeks..are four..and anciently Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, in each Fasted. 1716 J. Gay Trivia ii. 40 Wednesdays and Fridays you'll observe from hence, Days, when our Sires were doom'd to Abstinence. 1741 E. F. Haywood Anti-Pamela 17 He would not let me go till I had promised to meet him on Wednesday at the same Place. 1774 London Mag. Jan. 49/2 Last Wednesday was committed to Our Castle, Richard Falkner, a shoemaker, for robbing and attempting to murder Mr. John Bird. 1822 G. Downes Lett. from Mecklenburg 173 The evening of Wednesday was a gloomy one. 1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 448/1 The annual meeting of this association will be held on the first Wednesday of December, 1877. 1905 ‘G. Thorne’ Lost Cause ii Wait till you see my leader in Wednesday's issue. 1951 I. Shaw Troubled Air x. 165 Mary Lowell called to ask us..for dinner next Wednesday. 2005 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 1 May v. 16/2 The smoked pork ribs on Monday or trout on Wednesday are can't-misses. B. adv. 1. On Wednesday; last Wednesday; next Wednesday. Now chiefly North American.With the Wednesday cf. the adj. 2. ΚΠ OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Festivals for Mark in W. W. Skeat Gospel St. Mark (1871) 5 Post penticosten in ieiunium feria iiii cottidiana : æfter fifteigdæg fæstern wodnes doege doeghwæmlice. OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) xxxiii. 239 Fram sancte Iohannes gebyrdtide oð sancte Martinus forðsið ealswa eton tuwa on dæg, and wodnesdæge and frigedæge forgan flæsc. c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 38 Euche fridei of þe ȝer haldeð silence,..I þe aduenz & i þe umbriwiken, weodnesdei [a1250 Nero wodnesdawes; a1400 Pepys Wedenysday] & fridei. c1444 Paston Lett. (1976) ii. 14 Wretyn right symply þe Wednesseday next to-fore þe fest of the Purificacion of Oure Lady. a1500 (c1465) in J. Gairdner Three 15th-cent. Chrons. (1880) 26 (MED) In the same yere, the xxj daye of May, was the erthequake, the Wenesday a for Witsonday. 1785 G. Van Cortlandt Let. 21 Oct. in J. Judd Corr. Van Cortlandt Family (1977) 503 We got in Town Wednesday 1 Oclock had a very agreeable Passage. 1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility III. ii. 41 It all came out, how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley-street. 1948 R. Stout And be Villain xvi. 133 In the office after lunch Wednesday I made a remark to that effect to Wolfe. 1978 Washington Post 19 Nov. f2/2 Its four holiday stamps..showing carol singers through the ages will go on sale Wednesday. 1989 A. Aird 1990 Good Pub Guide 231 The pub fields six teams, Monday, Wednesday and Friday in winter. 2. In plural. On Wednesdays; each Wednesday. ΚΠ a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 30 Eueriche urideie of ðe ȝer, holdeð silence,..iþen aduent & iþe umbridawes, wodnesdawes [?c1225 Cleo. wednesdei, c1230 Corpus Cambr. weodnesdei] & fridawes. 1616 State Papers Earl of Melrose (1837) I. 258 Monnondayes, Wednisdayes, and Frydayes. 1685 J. Crowne Sir Courtly Nice i. 5 I'le make you keep Lent, and fast Wednesdays and Fridays. a1777 S. Foote Trip to Calais (1778) iii. 70 An express stipulation, that all connubial intercourse should be suspended Wednesdays and Fridays. 1869 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Folks xxii. 268 All alone in the old house, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and all days, Tina gaped and nestled. 1907 K. D. Wiggin Old Peabody Pew i. 25 We wash and hang out Mondays, iron Tuesdays, cook Wednesdays,..and go to meetin' Sundays. 2002 Providence (Rhode Island) Jrnl.-Bull. (Nexis) 12 Apr. c2 Since his announcement, he has worked Wednesdays by appointment only. Compounds General attributive, as Wednesday morning, Wednesday night, etc. ΚΠ a1350 St. Thomas Becket (Ashm.) (1919) Wendesday niȝt [c1300 Harl. The morwe upe Seint Lukes dai—Tuesdai hit was tho—He departede fram the Kinges court... Thane Wendesdai aniȝt out of the toun he nom; Sone amorwe thane Thursdai to Lincolne he com]. a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 423 Bigynnynge first at þe Wednesdai gospel in þe firste woke of Advent bifore Cristemasse. 1586 Treat. against Def. of Censure Bks. W. Charke & M. Hanmer i. 335 He alledgeth not onely a decree of the Apostles, but also the consent of all the world, for the wednesdaie fast, as well as the Fridaie fast. 1590 Cobler of Caunterburie sig. B4 On wednesday morning when the Scull shoulde goe for his cleane linnen, the Prior compounded with him..to keepe his counsaile. 1650 in Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS: Var. Coll. (1907) IV. 241 The defrayinge of the chardge for the Wensdaye lecture. 1673 S'too him Bayes 100 To your long business about the Clause to the Wednesday Act, and its binding the Conscience or no, I answer, [etc.]. 1704 D. Defoe Storm iii. 25 On the Wednesday Morning before..it was fair Weather, and blew hard. 1768 J. Nassau Mem. Two Young Gentlemen xii. 227 The Wednesday afternoon before he died, most of the young gentlemen who had been his former intimate companions..came to visit him. 1819 Lady Morgan in Passages from Autobiogr. (1859) 304 Several of my liberal Wednesday-evening guests have been made peers. 1848 C. Dickens Dombey & Son liii. 530 My Wednesday nights came regularly round. 1883 D. C. Murray Hearts vii They're going to play my ‘Dream of Venice’ at Hoffmann's Wednesday Concerts. 1926 J. Galsworthy Silver Spoon i. vi. 40 A surprise for the coming Session is being confectioned at the Wednesday gathering of a young hostess. 2000 Sunday Times 23 July (Sports section) 10/4 His decision to put Sussex in first on Wednesday morning was met with more than one raised eyebrow. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.adv.OE
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