maundy
2 synonyms for maundy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The Christian ceremony held on the Thursday before Easter in which feet are washed and alms are distributed, in imitation of Christ washing his disciples' feet at the Last Supper.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
foot-washing
pedilavium
How to use maundy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Maundy Thursday
Royal Maundy
Maundy money
maundy service
Almost only seen in the fixed terms Maundy Thursday and Royal Maundy; rarely used alone in everyday speech.
Etymology
From Old French mandé, from Latin mandatum 'commandment', the first word of the Latin text of Christ's instruction to his disciples read at the Thursday foot-washing ceremony.
Full origin of maundy →Frequently asked questions
What is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter Sunday, commemorating the Last Supper and Christ washing the disciples' feet. It marks the start of the Easter Triduum, the three days leading to Easter.
What is the difference between maundy and Maundy money?
Maundy is the ceremony itself, the ancient rite of washing feet and giving alms on the Thursday before Easter. Maundy money is the specific set of silver coins the British monarch hands out during that ceremony.
Why is it called maundy?
The word comes through Old French from the Latin mandatum, meaning 'commandment'. It refers to the new commandment Christ gave at the Last Supper, the passage read during the ceremony.
