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/mansem or f, plural מעשׂיות (mayses/manses) or מעשׂים (maysem/mansem)

  1. story, tale, narrative
  2. deed, action, act

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

Adverb

מעשׂה • (mayse/manse)

  1. 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...