ceremony English · revision 5308

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la caerimōnia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈser.ɪ.mə.ni/, /ˈser.ə.mə.ni/, US /ˈser.ə.moʊ.ni/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ceremonie|alt=ceremoyn, cerymonye]], [[bor|fro|ceremonie]] and directly from [[la-med|ceremonia]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|caerimōnia|t=sanctity, reverence; religious rite]], an obscure word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Ancient scholars derived it from Caere (now Cerveteri), a city of the Etruscans, and it may be of Etruscan origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A religious observance, a solemn rite: about 1380 in the OED, before 1382 in the Wycliffe Bible according to Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) It was introduced by Wycliffe.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A formal act expressing respect to a superior, or a conventional act of politeness, is also from the late 14th century.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) A rite regarded disparagingly as a mere formality is from the 1550s, before 1533 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Precise observance of formal courtesy, as in ''stand on ceremony'', is from 1603,^(OED 1989) and ceremonial display or pomp from 1599.^(OED 1989) ''Ceremonial'' is from 1402 and ''ceremonious'' from 1553.^(Barnhart 1988) In Kent dialect a ceremony was a fuss or bother.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – a religious rite.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1386 – a formal act of respect.^(OED 1989)

+ * a. 1533 – a mere formality.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1603 – formality of behaviour.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A formal act or series of acts performed according to [[ritual]] or custom: ''a wedding ceremony''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A religious [[rite]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # A conventional act of politeness.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Strict attention to formal behaviour: ''without ceremony''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ceremonial]]

+ * [[ceremonious]]

+ * [[preceremony]]

+ * [[master of ceremonies]]

+ * [[mistress of ceremonies]]

+ * [[tea ceremony]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}