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Webster 1913 Edition

Solemnity

So-lem′ni-ty

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Solemnities
(#)
.
[L.
solemnitas
,
solennitas
: cf. F.
solennité
,
solemnité
, OF. also
sollempnité
.]
1.
A rite or ceremony performed with religious reverence; religious or ritual ceremony;
as, the
solemnity
of a funeral, a sacrament
.
Great was the cause; our old
solemnities

From no blind zeal or fond tradition rise,
But saved from death, our Argives yearly pay
These grateful honors to the god of day.
Pope.
2.
ceremony adapted to impress with awe.
The forms and
solemnities
of the last judgment.
Atterburry.
3.
Ceremoniousness; impressiveness; seriousness; grave earnestness; formal dignity; gravity.
With much glory and great
solemnity
.
Chaucer.
The statelines and gravity of the Spaniards shows itself in the
solemnity
of their language.
Addison.
These promises were often made with great
solemnity
and confirmed with an oath.
J. Edwards.
4.
Hence, affected gravity or seriousness.
Solemnity
’s a cover for a sot.
Young.
5.
Solemn state or feeling; awe or reverence; also, that which produces such a feeling;
as, the
solemnity
of an audience; the
solemnity
of Westminster Abbey
.
6.
(Law)
A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid.

Webster 1828 Edition

Solemnity

SOLEM'NITY

, n.
1.
A rite or ceremony annualy performed with religious reverence. Great was the cause; our old solemnities from no blind zeal or fond tradition rise, but sav'd from death, our Arguves yearly pay these grateful honors to the god of day.
[Solemnities seems here to include the sense of anniversary. See the fourth line. But in modern usage, that sense is rarely or never attached to the word.]
2.
A religious ceremony; a ritual performance attended with religious reverence; as the solemnity of a funral or of a sacrament.
3.
A ceremony adapted to impress awe; as the solemnities of the last day.
4.
Manner of acting awfully serious. With horrible solemnity he caused every thing to be prepared for his triumph of victory.
5.
Gravity; steady seriouness; as the solemnity of the Spanish language.
6.
Affected gravity. Solemnity's a cover for a sot.

Definition 2024

solemnity

solemnity

English

Noun

solemnity ‎(plural solemnities)

  1. The quality of being deeply serious and sober or solemn.
    the solemnity of a funeral
    • Addison
      The stateliness and gravity of the Spaniards shows itself in the solemnity of their language.
    • J. Edwards
      These promises were often made with great solemnity and confirmed with an oath.
  2. An instance or example of solemn behavior; a rite or ceremony performed with reverence.
    • Alexander Pope
      Great was the cause; our old solemnities / From no blind zeal or fond tradition rise, / But saved from death, our Argives yearly pay / These grateful honours to the god of day.
    • Atterbury
      The forms and solemnities of the last judgment.
  3. (law) A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid.
  4. (obsolete) A celebration or festivity.

Translations

Anagrams

References

  1. ↑ “solemnity” in the The New Oxford American Dictionary, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 2005

Etymology

From Middle English solemnity ‎(“observance of formality and ceremony”), frequently in the phrases in solemnity, with solemnity, which from Old French solemnite, from Latin sollemnitās, from sollemnis. (Compare solemn.)[1]

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