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ceremony

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ceremony

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ceremony  \Cer"e*mo*ny\,  n.;  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  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ceremony 
  n  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"




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