Noel
Noel (also spelled Nowell or Noël) (nəʊˈɛl) is an alternative word for Christmas. It first entered the English language in the 14th century. The word comes from Middle English noel, which derives from the Old French word noël and its more common form naël. The English spelling "Noël" is taken directly from modern French, which also derives from the Old French. The ultimate Latin origin is the phrase nātālis (diēs), "(day) of birth".
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Famous quotes containing the word noel:
“I think the worst woman that ever existed would have made a man of very passable reputation—they are all better than us & their faults such as they are must originate with ourselves.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“But as to women, who can penetrate
The real sufferings of their she condition?
Man’s very sympathy with their estate
Has much of selfishness and more suspicion.
Their love, their virtue, beauty, education,
But form good housekeepers, to breed a nation.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“Ye could not know where lies a thing so fair,
No stone is there to show, no tongue to say,
What was; no dirge, except the hollow sea’s,
Mourns o’er the beauty of the Cyclades.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)