Definitions

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

  • noun An eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, commemorating the victory in 165 BC of the Maccabees over Antiochus Epiphanes (c. 215–164 BC) and the rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem.

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

  • proper noun Judaism A Jewish eight-day festival starting on the 25th day of Kislev, that commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek Syrians.

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

  • noun (Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC

Etymologies

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

[Hebrew ḥănukkâ, dedication, from ḥānak, to train, dedicate; see ḥnk in Semitic roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Originated 1890–95 From Hebrew חנוכה \ חֲנֻכָּה (khanuká, "dedication, consecration") from חָנַךְ (khanákh, "to dedicate, to consecrate").

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Examples

  • HANUKKAH CANDLE: Poland's president lit a Hanukkah candle and distributed gifts to Jewish children on Sunday in Warsaw, continuing a tradition started by his predecessor of marking the Jewish holiday.

    Kansas City Star: Front Page 2010

  • HANUKKAH CANDLE: Poland's president lit a Hanukkah candle and distributed gifts to Jewish children on Sunday in Warsaw, continuing a tradition started by his predecessor of marking the Jewish holiday.

    Kansas City Star: Front Page 2010

  • HANUKKAH CANDLE: Poland's president lit a Hanukkah candle and distributed gifts to Jewish children on Sunday in Warsaw, continuing a tradition started by his predecessor of marking the Jewish holiday.

    Kansas City Star: Front Page 2010

  • HANUKKAH CANDLE: Poland’s president lit a Hanukkah candle and distributed gifts to Jewish children on Sunday in Warsaw, continuing a tradition started by his predecessor of marking the Jewish holiday.

    Kansas City Star: Front Page 2010

  • HANUKKAH CANDLE: Poland’s president lit a Hanukkah candle and distributed gifts to Jewish children on Sunday in Warsaw, continuing a tradition started by his predecessor of marking the Jewish holiday.

    Kansas City Star: Front Page 2010

  • HANUKKAH CANDLE: Poland’s president lit a Hanukkah candle and distributed gifts to Jewish children on Sunday in Warsaw, continuing a tradition started by his predecessor of marking the Jewish holiday.

    Kansas City Star: Front Page 2010

  • You see, Hanukkah, not being a holiday mentioned in the Jewish Bible, and celebrated by the Maccabees as a festival of the Temple's re-dedication the word "Hanukkah" means "dedication", was at best a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar for many centuries.

    Shawna Dolansky: The Truth(s) About Hanukkah Shawna Dolansky 2011

  • We were also given a choice to keep our children at home for an optional "winter celebration" on the last day before winter break, presumably to avoid the possibility another student might say something scandalous like the word "Hanukkah" or accidentally wish someone "Happy Holidays".

    Nancy Cronk: CO HB 12-1049: Bringing Common Sense to Education in Colorado Nancy Cronk 2012

  • Hanukkah is early this year -- December 1st -- so by these timings, your Hanukkah gifts should be postmarked by October 19 via Parcel Post Mail.

    Paul Snyder: Military Announces Shipping Deadline for Holiday Gifts Overseas Paul Snyder 2010

  • Hanukkah is early this year -- December 1st -- so by these timings, your Hanukkah gifts should be postmarked by October 19 via Parcel Post Mail.

    Paul Snyder: Military Announces Shipping Deadline for Gifts Overseas Paul Snyder 2010

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