kermesse

English

Noun

kermesse (plural kermesses)

1. Alternative form of kirmess

References

• “kermesse”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Remkeses

French

Etymology

From Dutch kermis, a bastardization of kerk (“church”) + mis (“mass”). Compare German Kirmes (“church mass”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɛʁ.mɛs/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

kermesse f (plural kermesses)

1. (Belgium, Northern France) kirmess, fair
   • 2016, Gaël Faye, Petit Pays [Small Country]:

     dans les parcs et les stades, on chantait, on dansait, on riait, on organisait de grandes kermesses tonitruantes.

     In the parks and stadiums, we sang, we danced, we laughed, we organised raucous fêtes.

Descendants

• → Italian: kermesse
• → Portuguese: quermesse
• → Spanish: kermés
• → Romanian: chermeză
• → Turkish: kermes

Further reading

• “kermesse”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Italian

Etymology

From French kermesse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kerˈmɛs/
• Rhymes: -ɛs

Noun

kermesse f (invariable)

1. kermis
2. social event, gathering, meeting, gala

Portuguese

Noun

kermesse f (plural kermesses)

1. Obsolete form of quermesse.