septuagesima: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / ObsoleteFormal / Ecclesiastical / Archaic
Quick answer
What does “septuagesima” mean?
The name for the third Sunday before Lent in the traditional Western Christian liturgical calendar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name for the third Sunday before Lent in the traditional Western Christian liturgical calendar.
The period or season beginning on Septuagesima Sunday, sometimes used in a broader, historical or liturgical context to refer to a pre-Lenten period of preparation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both regions, the term is archaic and confined to traditionalist Christian liturgical contexts. No significant national difference in usage.
Connotations
Strongly associated with traditional (often pre-Vatican II or Anglo-Catholic) Christian liturgy. May connote conservatism or deep liturgical knowledge.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language in both regions. Mostly found in historical texts, old prayer books, or discussions among liturgical scholars.
Grammar
How to Use “septuagesima” in a Sentence
[NOUN] + Sundaythe [NOUN] of [PLACE/TIME]during [NOUN]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “septuagesima” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Septuagesima liturgy has a penitential tone.
American English
- They followed the Septuagesima rubrics from the old missal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical theology, liturgical studies, and church history. Example: 'The observance of Septuagesima was abolished in many Protestant churches after the Reformation.'
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Specific to liturgics (the study of worship).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “septuagesima”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “septuagesima”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “septuagesima”
- Misspelling as 'Septuagesia' or 'Septuagessima'.
- Pronouncing the 'g' as a hard /g/ (it's soft, /dʒ/).
- Using it as a general term for a 70-day period outside of the liturgical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English: /ˌsɛptjʊəˈdʒɛsɪmə/. In American English: /ˌsɛptʃuəˈdʒɛsəmə/. The stress is on the 'ges' syllable.
It is not observed in the mainstream Roman Catholic calendar post-Vatican II or in many Protestant churches. It is retained in some traditionalist Anglican, Catholic, and Lutheran liturgies.
In the traditional sequence, the following Sundays are Sexagesima (second before Lent) and Quinquagesima (the Sunday immediately before Lent, also called Shrove Sunday).
The name is symbolic rather than exact. It follows a pattern of round-number naming (Quinquagesima=50, Sexagesima=60, Septuagesima=70) roughly counting down to Easter, but the actual count is approximate.
The name for the third Sunday before Lent in the traditional Western Christian liturgical calendar.
Septuagesima is usually formal / ecclesiastical / archaic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SEPTem'ber is the seventh month? SEPT-UAGESIMA is the seventh period before Easter? (It's roughly the seventieth day before). The 'uag' could remind you of 'vague' as it's not a precise count.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME AS A JOURNEY (specifically, a liturgical calendar as a path toward Easter); SEASONS AS PREPARATION.
Practice
Quiz
What is Septuagesima?