מעשׂה
See also: מעשה
Yiddish
Alternative forms
- מײַסע (mayse) — Soviet phonetic spelling
Etymology
From Hebrew מַעֲשֶׂה (ma‘asé), with retention of an archaic velar nasal ayin in some pronunciations, assimilated to the following [s] sound. The more common plural form מעשׂיות (mayses/manses) is borrowed from the plural of Hebrew מעשייה / מַעֲשִׂיָּה (ma‘asiyá).
Pronunciation
- (YIVO, Northern) IPA(key): /ˈmaɪ̯sə/
- (Southern) IPA(key): /ˈmaːsə/, /ˈmansə/
Noun
מעשׂה • (mayse/manse) m or f, plural מעשׂיות (mayses/manses) or מעשׂים (maysem/mansem)
Usage notes
As per Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary by Solon Beinfeld and Harry Bochner, feminine is more "standard", but some masculine usages occur.
The plural מעשׂים (maysem/mansem) is more commonly used with the meaning of "deeds".
Derived terms
- באָבע־מעשׂה (bobe-mayse)
Adverb
מעשׂה • (mayse/manse)
- in the manner of
- 1967, Chaim Grade, צמח אַטלאַס [Tsemekh Atlas], page 16:
- צמחס בעל־אַכסניא האָט מעשׂה אַלטער באַקאַנטער אים אַרײַנגעשושקעט אין אויער...
- tsemekhs bal-akhsanye hot mayse alter bakanter im arayngeshushket in oyer...
- Tsemakh's innkeeper whispered to him in his ears in the manner of an old friend...