DOMINICAL LETTER Meaning and
Definition
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A dominical letter refers to a distinctive letter assigned to each Sunday in a given calendar year, used primarily for determining the dates of religious festivities and calculating the day of the week for any particular date. Derived from the Latin word "dominicus" meaning "pertaining to the Lord," the dominical letter is often associated with determining the dates of Easter and other movable feasts. Its purpose is to establish the time of occurrence for repeating events that transpire on the same day each year.
The dominical letter typically follows a specific pattern, with seven letters of the alphabet representing the days of the week. In a perpetual calendar, these letters are assigned in sequence starting from the first Sunday of the specified year. The first letter corresponds to the Sunday following the New Year's Day. When a leap year is encountered, the sequence advances to the following letter, allowing for the appropriate calculation of festivities and events throughout the entire year.
By utilizing the dominical letter, individuals can easily determine the day of the week for any given date, which aids in planning religious observances and commemorations. This system has been utilized for centuries and remains valuable in ecclesiastical and historical contexts, providing an organized means for establishing the timing of recurring religious celebrations.
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In almanacs, the letter which denotes the Sabbath, the first seven of the alphabet being used for that purpose.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for DOMINICAL LETTER
- dominnicalletter
- d ominical letter
- do minical letter
- dom inical letter
- domi nical letter
- domin ical letter
- domini cal letter
- dominic al letter
- dominica l letter
- dominical l etter
- dominical le tter
- dominical let ter
- dominical lett er
- dominical lette r
Etymology of DOMINICAL LETTER
The word "dominical" comes from the Latin word "dominīcālis", which means "pertaining to the Lord" or "of the Lord". The term emerged in the early Christian context, specifically related to Sundays, the Christian day of worship, which is seen as the Lord's day. It is derived from the Latin "dominus", meaning "Lord" or "master". The word "letter" in "dominical letter" refers to a specific letter of the alphabet that is used to determine the Sunday letter for a given year in the Julian or Gregorian calendar.
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