yahrzeit

noun

yahr·​zeit

variants or less commonly jahrzeit

ˈyärˌtsīt,

ˈyȯrˌ-

plural -s

often capitalized

: the anniversary of the death of a parent or near relative observed annually among Jews by the recital of the Kaddish and the lighting of a memorial candle or lamp

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish yartsayt, yortsayt, from Middle High German jārzīt anniversary, literally, year's time, from jār year (from Old High German) + zīt time, from Old High German

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