ceremony

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈser.ɪ.mə.ni/, /ˈser.ə.mə.ni/, US /ˈser.ə.moʊ.ni/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English ceremoyn, cerymonye, borrowed from Old French ceremonie and directly from Medieval Latin ceremonia,^[2][3] from Latin caerimōnia (“sanctity, reverence; religious rite”), an obscure word of uncertain origin.^[2][3][4] Ancient scholars derived it from Caere (now Cerveteri), a city of the Etruscans, and it may be of Etruscan origin.^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A religious observance, a solemn rite: about 1380 in the OED, before 1382 in the Wycliffe Bible according to Barnhart.^[5][3] It was introduced by Wycliffe.^[2]

Semantic evolution

A formal act expressing respect to a superior, or a conventional act of politeness, is also from the late 14th century.^[5][2] A rite regarded disparagingly as a mere formality is from the 1550s, before 1533 in the OED.^[2][5] Precise observance of formal courtesy, as in stand on ceremony, is from 1603,^[5] and ceremonial display or pomp from 1599.^[5] Ceremonial is from 1402 and ceremonious from 1553.^[3] In Kent dialect a ceremony was a fuss or bother.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 1380 – a religious rite.^[5]
• c. 1386 – a formal act of respect.^[5]
• a. 1533 – a mere formality.^[5]
• 1603 – formality of behaviour.^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A formal act or series of acts performed according to ritual or custom: a wedding ceremony.
2. A religious rite.
3. A conventional act of politeness.
4. Strict attention to formal behaviour: without ceremony.

Word family

• ceremonial
• ceremonious
• preceremony
• master of ceremonies
• mistress of ceremonies
• tea ceremony

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)