burnt sacrifice

November 2, 2023

I’ve got this little “vest dictionary” that’s been on one of my shelves for years. From what I can find, it was printed in 1934. There are no dates, even Roman numeral, so I had to do some digging on the internet.

I was looking through it the other day and came across this definition of holocaust…

look at the definitions for holiday and holy day…

holiday is defined as ‘day of festivity’ and holy day is ‘religious festivity’

I dug out a couple of my newer dictionaries, this is what the same words are defined as…

holocaust:

~ Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (1961): a sacrificial offering, the whole of which is consumed by fire; hence, a complete or thorough sacrifice or destruction, especially by fire, as of large numbers of human beings
~ Webster’s New World Dictionary (1990): great destruction of life, especially by fire; the killing of millions of European Jews by the Nazi’s

holiday:

~ Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (1961): a religious feast day; any day of exemption from labor or work, hence, often a period or recreation or rest
~ Webster’s New World Dictionary (1990): a religious festival; holy day; a day of freedom from labor, often set aside by law to celebrate some event

holy day:

~ Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (1961): also holiday
~ Webster’s New World Dictionary (1990): not even listed

The words we use every day have been manipulated. I get that the pocket or vest dictionary isn’t going to be large in volume, and rather simplified, but to see how words have changed over the last almost 100 years…it’s interesting.

About ‘Webster’s New World Dictionary’…when I started public school in 1990, I needed a new dictionary. Before, while attending the private, non-denominational Christian school, the old Webster’s dictionary was good enough. This dictionary was what I chose…I was in ninth grade. I highly doubt I will buy a new dictionary, as I can use the internet at this point.

This does give me a new mission now though – to be on the lookout for an even older dictionary! I’m fortunate to have the 1934 vest dictionary.

a screenshot from my phone:

What’s interesting, in my opinion, is that most links or articles are about WW2 and the Jewish genocide. On both my laptop and cell phone. Nothing about “burnt sacrifice”.

a screenshot from my laptop:

This may have just opened another door or window for me – to share things like this, when I have nothing better to do!

*photos are mine

hope you have a great day!
thanks for stopping by!!