Vacation
A vacation, or holiday, is a leave of absence from a regular occupation, or a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations. Vacations are often spent with friends or family.A person may take a longer break from work, such as a sabbatical, gap year, or career break.
The concept of taking a vacation is a recent invention, and has developed through the last two centuries. Historically, the idea of travel for recreation was a luxury that only wealthy people could afford (see Grand Tour). In the Puritan culture of early America, taking a break from work for reasons other than weekly observance of the Sabbath was frowned upon. However, the modern concept of vacation was led by a later religious movement encouraging spiritual retreat and recreation. The notion of breaking from work periodically took root among the middle and working class.
Spell (noun)
Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers. from 16th c.
“He cast a spell to cure warts.”
Spell (noun)
A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula. from 16th c.
“under a spell”
Spell (noun)
Speech, discourse. 8th-15th c.
Spell (noun)
A shift (of work); a set of workers responsible for a specific turn of labour. from 16th c.
Spell (noun)
A definite period (of work or other activity). from 18th c.
Spell (noun)
An indefinite period of time (usually with a qualifier); by extension, a relatively short distance. from 18th c.
Spell (noun)
A period of rest; time off. from 19th c.
Spell (noun)
A period of illness, or sudden interval of bad spirits, disease etc. from 19th c.
Spell (noun)
An uninterrupted series of alternate overs bowled by a single bowler. from 20th c.
Spell (noun)
A splinter, usually of wood; a spelk.
Spell (noun)
The wooden bat in the game of trap ball, or knurr and spell.
Spell (verb)
To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
Spell (verb)
To speak, to declaim. 9th-16th c.
Spell (verb)
To tell; to relate; to teach.
Spell (verb)
To read (something) as though letter by letter; to peruse slowly or with effort. from 14th c.
Spell (verb)
To write or say the letters that form a word or part of a word. from 16th c.
Spell (verb)
To be able to write or say the letters that form words.
“I find it difficult to spell because I’m dyslexic.”
Spell (verb)
Of letters: to compose (a word). from 19th c.
“The letters “a”, “n” and “d” spell “and”.”
Spell (verb)
To indicate that (some event) will occur. from 19th c.
“This spells trouble.”
Spell (verb)
To clarify; to explain in detail. from 20th c.
“Please spell it out for me.”
Spell (verb)
To constitute; to measure.
Spell (verb)
To work in place of (someone).
“to spell the helmsman”
Spell (verb)
To rest (someone or something), to give someone or something a rest or break.
“They spelled the horses and rested in the shade of some trees near a brook.”
Spell (verb)
To rest from work for a time.
Vacation (noun)
Freedom from some business or activity. from 14th c.
Vacation (noun)
Free time given over to a specific purpose; occupation, activity. 15th-17th c.
Vacation (noun)
A period during which official activity or business is formally suspended; an official holiday from university, law courts etc. from 15th c.
Vacation (noun)
A holiday; a stretch of leisure time away from work or duty and devoted to rest or pleasure. from 19th c.
Vacation (noun)
The act of vacating something; moving out. from 19th c.
“The Conservative Party’s vacation of the centre ground gave an opportunity to its opponents.”
Vacation (noun)
The act of making legally void.
Vacation (verb)
To spend or take a vacation.
“This year, we’re vacationing in Mexico.”