Etymologically
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celebration

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 12:39. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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

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