celebration

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌsɛl.ɪˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/ (UK); /ˌsɛl.əˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/, /ˌsɛlˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French célébration or directly celebratio (“a numerous attendance”),^[2][3][4] a noun of action from celebrāre (“to celebrate”) (see celebrate),^[4][5] or formed in English from celebrate.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The observing of a feast, day or season with festivities: 1529 in the OED,^[6] the 1520s in Etymonline.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The performance of a solemn religious ceremony, especially the Eucharist, is from the 1570s, 1580 in the OED.^[4][6] Publicly praising someone, and laudatory speeches, are from the 1670s.^[4][6] In the 18th century the word was also used for renown, in the sense of celebrity.^[6]

Timeline

• 1529 – the observance of a feast or festival.^[6][4]
• 1580 – the performance of a religious rite.^[6]
• before 1674 – public praise.^[6][4]
• 1710 – renown (obsolete).^[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The act of celebrating a happy event or occasion.
2. A social gathering or festivities held to mark an occasion.
3. The performance of a religious ceremony, especially the Eucharist.
4. Public praise; acclaim.

Word family

• concelebration
• noncelebration
• precelebration
• recelebration

Related words

• celebrant
• celebrate
• celebrity
• celebrated

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
3. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press