I. ˈjübəˌlē, ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French jubilé, from Late Latin jubilaeus, modification (influenced by Latin jubilare to jubilate) of Late Greek īōbēlaios, from Hebrew yōbhēl ram's horn, trumpet, jubilee
1. also ju·bi·le “ often capitalized : a year of emancipation and restoration provided by ancient Hebrew law for celebration every fifty years and held to be characterized by emancipation of Hebrew slaves, restoration of alienated lands to their former owners, and omission of all cultivation of the land — used especially in the phrase year of jubilee
the year of jubilee … appears to have been calculated but not observed — T.W.Manson
you shall hallow the fiftieth year … it shall be a jubilee for you — Lev 25:10 (Revised Standard Version)
in this year of jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession — Lev 25:13 (Authorized Version)
— compare sabbatical year
2.
a.
(1) : a fiftieth anniversary or the completion of fifty years in an office, position, or condition
the Australian florin commemorating the jubilee of the constitution of the commonwealth — Lionel Thompson
the jubilee … of King George the Third in 1810 — E.J.Shears
(2) : a special anniversary or the completion of a significant length of service involving a period other than fifty years — usually used with qualifying adjective
the seventieth jubilee of the reign of the Emperor Francis Joseph — Hans Meyerhoff
the approach of his thirty-year jubilee may have supplied a … motive for retirement — W.F.Edgerton
— compare diamond jubilee , silver jubilee
b. : a celebration or commemoration of such an anniversary or of the completion of such a period of service
the sesquicentennial vacation jubilee scheduled for this year — Stamps
3.
a. : a period of time (as a year) proclaimed by the Roman Catholic pope every 25 years or during a time of rejoicing (as an anniversary) as a time of special solemnity during which a special indulgence may be gained
the first jubilee was proclaimed in the year 1300 — Percy Winner
b. or jubilee indulgence : a special plenary indulgence granted during a year of jubilee to Roman Catholics who perform certain specified works of repentance and piety usually including a pilgrimage to Rome
the precise conditions for gaining each jubilee are determined by the Roman pontiff — Herbert Thurston
4.
[influenced in meaning by jubilation ]
: a state of joy or rejoicing : jubilation
they … only thought of their triumph and abandoned themselves to jubilee — W.H.Prescott
5.
[influenced in meaning by jubilation ]
: the sound of jubilation : joyous shouting
all along the crowded way was jubilee and loud huzza — Sir Walter Scott
6.
a. obsolete : a period of remission or restitution and sometimes license
moved … a general jubilee shall be for the debts — House of Lords Debates
b.
[influenced in meaning by jubilation ]
: a season or occasion of celebration or rejoicing
during the wild jubilee of the Restoration — T.B.Macaulay
we had a big jubilee … to celebrate our victory — A.F.Harlow
7. often capitalized , obsolete : a period of fifty years
I have lived among you almost a Jubilee — Ephraim Pagitt
8. : a Negro folk song characterized by references to a future happy time or a time of deliverance from trials and tribulations
the weary field hollers of the slaves were mingled with merrier elements of the jubilees — New York Times Book Review
— compare holler 3
II. adjective
: flambé 2
cherries jubilee