feast of lots
C2Literary, Formal, Religious
Definition
Meaning
Another name for the Jewish holiday of Purim, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot of annihilation in ancient Persia, as recorded in the Book of Esther. 'Lots' refers to the purim (lots) cast by the villain Haman to determine the date for the massacre.
A celebration, festival, or joyous occasion marked by festivities, feasting, and the giving of gifts, often used metaphorically to describe any lavish or abundant celebration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a formal or religious term for the holiday of Purim. In metaphorical use, it emphasizes lavishness, abundance, and celebration, often with historical or traditional overtones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally rare and formal in both dialects. 'Purim' is the far more common name for the holiday in both religious and secular Jewish contexts.
Connotations
Carries a literary, almost archaic flavour. In metaphorical use, it might sound more poetic or erudite in British English, while in American English it may be more immediately associated with its specific religious referent.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora. Used almost exclusively in religious texts, historical writings, or deliberately ornate prose.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] celebrates/observes the feast of lots.The feast of lots commemorates [event].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a regular feast of lots.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, or cultural studies discussing Jewish traditions.
Everyday
Extremely rare; 'Purim' is the everyday term.
Technical
A technical/formal term within religious studies and historiography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The community will feast this week, observing the Feast of Lots.
American English
- They feasted joyously during the Feast of Lots.
adverb
British English
- The event was celebrated feast-of-lots-style, with gifts and merriment.
American English
- They commemorated it feast-of-lots-style, focusing on deliverance.
adjective
British English
- The feast-of-lots celebrations included a colourful parade.
American English
- The Feast of Lots story is read from the Megillah.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Purim is also called the Feast of Lots.
- It is a happy holiday.
- The Feast of Lots, known as Purim, commemorates the events described in the Book of Esther.
- The holiday's name comes from the lots cast by Haman.
- The rabbi's sermon connected the ancient narrative of the Feast of Lots to contemporary themes of resilience.
- Metaphorically, the company's annual gala had become a veritable feast of lots, a time for excessive celebration and gift-giving.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A FEAST decided by the casting of LOTS. Haman cast lots (purim) to pick a date, but the result was a feast of celebration for the saved people.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABUNDANCE IS A FEAST; SALVATION IS A CELEBRATORY MEAL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'lots' as 'много' (a lot of). It refers to 'жребий' (casting lots).
- Do not confuse with 'пир' or 'праздник' alone; the term is a specific proper name for Пурим.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'We had a feast of lots of food.' (This misparses the fixed term). Correct: 'We celebrated the Feast of Lots.'
- Capitalization error: It is often capitalised as 'Feast of Lots' when referring to the holiday.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary referent of 'Feast of Lots'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'Feast of Lots' is a formal, descriptive name for the Jewish holiday of Purim. 'Purim' itself means 'lots' in Hebrew.
Only in a highly metaphorical, literary sense. In everyday language, it would be confusing and is not recommended. Use 'feast', 'celebration', or 'banquet' instead.
Because the villain Haman cast 'purim' (lots) to determine the date for his planned genocide of the Jews, as recorded in the Book of Esther. The holiday celebrates the thwarting of that plan.
The term 'Purim' is overwhelmingly more common in contemporary usage, both religious and secular. 'Feast of Lots' is found in older English translations, formal writing, or educational contexts.