What does sabbat mean?
Sabbat is an uncommon noun naming the Jewish Sabbath, the weekly day of rest observed from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. It may also appear in older writing for a day set apart for religious observance or rest. Because the Sabbath begins at sunset rather than midnight, its observance crosses two conventional calendar days. In modern English, Sabbath is much more common, and sabbat is chiefly encountered in literary, archaic, or historical material. The word is relevant to discussions of Judaism, religious calendars, and the historical symbolism of weekly rest. Although it is closely related etymologically to such English words as sabbatical and sabbatic, those forms have developed distinct meanings and should not simply be treated as inflections of sabbat.
nounThe sabbat is the Jewish Sabbath, especially as observed from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. In older English, the word could also refer more generally to a day of religious observance or rest.
- The Jewish Sabbath, observed from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday.
- In older or archaic usage, a day set apart for religious observance or rest.
"The sabbat began at sunset, as it had done for generations."
"Families gathered before sunset to welcome the sabbat."
"The medieval account describes the sabbat as a day set apart from ordinary work."
The plural is grammatically regular but rarely encountered because sabbat itself is uncommon in modern English.
"The earliest communities established sabbats according to their own religious observances."
The Jewish Sabbath begins at sunset, so its calendar day changes in the evening rather than at midnight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sabbat come from?
Sabbat ultimately comes through Latin from Hebrew, the language in which the Jewish Sabbath is called Shabbat. Latin sabbatum was used for the Jewish day of rest and entered English in an altered form. The familiar spelling Sabbath became standard, while sabbat remained as a less common variant in literary and historical usage.
How sabbat is actually used
Sabbat is uncommon in modern English. Sabbath is the usual form, while sabbat chiefly survives in archaic, literary, or historical contexts; capitalization varies with the intended sense and house style.
Easily confused with sabbat
Sabbat is a relatively rare, chiefly archaic or formal spelling of Sabbath; it does not ordinarily have a separate meaning.