solemnity
English
Etymology
solemn + -ity, 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]
Pronunciation
Noun
solemnity (countable and uncountable, plural solemnities)
- The quality of being deeply serious and sober or solemn.
- the solemnity of a funeral
- (Can we date this quote by Addison and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- The stateliness and gravity of the Spaniards shows itself in the solemnity of their language.
- (Can we date this quote by J. Edwards and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- These promises were often made with great solemnity and confirmed with an oath.
- An instance or example of solemn behavior; a rite or ceremony performed with reverence.
- c. 1699 – 1703, Alexander Pope, “The First Book of Statius His Thebais”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, 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./mode/1up page 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.:
- (Can we date this quote by Atterbury and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- The forms and solemnities of the last judgment.
- (Catholicism) A feast day of the highest rank celebrating a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or another important saint.
- (law) A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid.
- (obsolete) A celebration or festivity.
Translations
quality of being solemn
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instance of solemn behavior
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feast day of the highest rank
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References
- ^ “solemnity” in The New Oxford American Dictionary, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 2005
Anagrams
Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -ity
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 4-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
- Requests for date/Addison
- Requests for date/J. Edwards
- Requests for date/Atterbury
- en:Catholicism
- en:Law
- English terms with obsolete senses