Etymologically
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celebratio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:35. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɛ.ɫɛˈbraː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [t͡ʃe.leˈbrat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

celebrātiō f (genitive celebrātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from celebrō “to throng, celebrate”, from celeber “crowded”, with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of a gathering.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a gathering, concourse, and the celebration of a festival, as in Cicero, and in Pliny the Elder widespread use, vogue.[2]

In Christian Latin it meant the celebration of divine service, the performance of a sacred function.[4][5] British Medieval Latin used it for the assembling of a council or chapter.[6] It survives in Italian celebrazione and French célébration, and English celebration is recorded from the 1520s.[1][7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a gathering and a festival.[2][3]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of vogue.[2][3]
  • 1520s – English celebration is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A gathering, concourse.[2]
  2. The celebration of a festival.[2]
  3. Vogue, widespread use.[2]
  4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The celebration of divine service.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com