WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Em′ber day′,
- any of the days in the quarterly three-day period of prayer and fasting (the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent, after Whitsunday, after Sept. 14, and after Dec. 13) observed in the Roman Catholic Church and other Western churches.
- Middle English ymber day, Old English ymbrendæg, plural -dagas, equivalent. to ymbryne recurrence (ymb(e) around + ryne a running) + dæg day bef. 1050