 3 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
ceremony
noun
1: a formal event performed on a special occasion; "a ceremony
commemorating Pearl Harbor" [syn: {ceremonial}, {ceremonial
occasion}, {observance}]
2: any activity that is performed in an especially solemn
elaborate or formal way; "the ceremony of smelling the
cork and tasting the wine"; "he makes a ceremony of
addressing his golf ball"; "he disposed of it without
ceremony"
3: the proper or conventional behavior on some solemn occasion;
"an inaugural ceremony"
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Ceremony \Cer"e*mo*ny\, noun; pl. {Ceremonies}. [F.
c['e]r['e]monie, L. caerimonia; perh. akin to E. create and
from a root signifying to do or make.]
1. Ar act or series of acts, often of a symbolical character,
prescribed by law, custom, or authority, in the conduct of
important matters, as in the performance of religious
duties, the transaction of affairs of state, and the
celebration of notable events; as, the ceremony of
crowning a sovereign; the ceremonies observed in
consecrating a church; marriage and baptismal ceremonies.
According to all the rites of it, and according to
all the ceremonies thereof shall ye keep it [the
Passover]. --Numb. ix. 3
Bring her up the high altar, that she may
The sacred ceremonies there partake. --Spenser.
[The heralds] with awful ceremony
And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim
A solemn council. --Milton.
2. Behavior regulated by strict etiquette; a formal method of
performing acts of civility; forms of civility prescribed
by custom or authority.
Ceremony was but devised at first
To set a gloss on . . . hollow welcomes . . .
But where there is true friendship there needs none.
--Shak.
Al ceremonies are in themselves very silly things;
but yet a man of the world should know them.
--Chesterfield.
3. A ceremonial symbols; an emblem, as a crown, scepter,
garland, etc. [Obs.]
Disrobe the images,
If you find them decked with ceremonies.
. . . Let no images
Be hung with C[ae]sar's trophies. --Shak.
4. A sign or prodigy; a portent. [Obs.]
C[ae]sar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet, now they fright me. --Shak.
{Master of ceremonies}, an officer who determines the forms
to be observed, or superintends their observance, on a
public occasion.
{Not to stand on ceremony}, not to be ceremonious; to be
familiar, outspoken, or bold.
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
109 Moby Thesaurus words for "ceremony":
amenities, anniversaries, appearances, baccalaureate service,
buckram, celebrating, celebration, ceremonial, ceremonies,
ceremoniousness, civilities, commemoration, commencement,
convention, conventions, convocation, decorum, dignities, dignity,
dressing ship, duty, elegancies, empty formality, etiquette,
exercise, exercises, extrinsicality, fanfare, fanfaronade,
festivity, flourish of trumpets, form, form of worship, formal,
formalities, formality, formalization, formula, formulary,
function, gentilities, graces, graduation, graduation exercises,
gravity, holiday, holy rite, impersonality, inaugural,
inauguration, initiation, institution, jubilee, liturgy,
marking the occasion, memorialization, memory, mode of worship,
motions, mummery, mystery, niceties, obsequies, observance, office,
order of worship, ordinance, ovation, performance, pomp, pomposity,
practice, prescribed form, primness, proprieties, protocol,
rejoicing, religious ceremony, religious rites, remembrance, revel,
rigidness, rite, rite de passage, rite of passage, rites, ritual,
ritual observance, rituality, rituals, sacrament, sacramental,
salute, salvo, service, solemn observance, solemnity,
solemnization, starchiness, stiffness, stiltedness, stylization,
testimonial, testimonial banquet, testimonial dinner, toast,
tribute, triumph, weight
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