Etymologically
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ceremony

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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)