‖ Walpurgisnacht
(valˈpʊrgɪsnaxt)
[Ger.]
= prec. a. Also transf.
| 1822 Shelley Let. 10 Apr. (1964) II. 407, I have only attempted the scenes omitted in this translation, & would send you that of the Walpurgisnacht. 1898 W. James Let. 9 July (1920) II. 76 The influences of Nature, [etc.]..all fermented within me till it became a regular Walpurgis Nacht. 1909 ― Pluralistic Universe i. 21 Nature can have little unity for savages. It is a Walpurgis-nacht procession, a checkered play of light and shadow, a medley of impish and elfish friendly and inimical powers. 1947 Partisan Rev. XIV. 102/2 The Walpurgisnacht which is Hollywood. 1965 Guardian 10 Dec. 6/5, I might still avoid the woods on Walpurgisnacht. 1977 Time 3 Jan. 65/2 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? An admirable revival..verifies that after 14 years this marital Walpurgisnacht has become part of the permanent canon of U.S. drama. |