Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Hanukkah"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Hanukka \Ha"nuk*ka\, or Hanukkah \Ha"nuk*kah\, n. [Heb.
khanukk[=a]h.]
The Jewish Feast of the Dedication, instituted by Judas
Maccab[ae]us, his brothers, and the whole congregation of
Israel, in 165 b. c., to commemorate the dedication of the
new altar set up at the purification of the temple of
Jerusalem to replace the altar which had been polluted by
Antiochus Epiphanes (--1 Maccabees i. 58, iv. 59). The feast,
which is mentioned in John x. 22, is held for eight days
(beginning with the 25th day of Kislev, corresponding to
December), and is celebrated everywhere, chiefly as a
festival of lights, by the Jews.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
Hanukkah
n : (Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the
rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem [syn: {Hanukkah},
{Hanukah}, {Chanukah}, {Festival of Lights}, {Feast of
Lights}, {Feast of Dedication}, {Feast of the Dedication}]
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