encaenia

E1N1C3A1E1N1I1A1
/ɛnˈsiːniə/

noun

A festival held to mark the anniversary of the dedication of a church or temple; (especially), of the Temple at Jerusalem.

OriginLatin encaenia ← Ancient Greek (τὰ) ἐγκαίνια →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

encaenia1

noun

alternative encenia

  1. A festival held to mark the anniversary of the dedication of a church or temple; (especially), of the Temple at Jerusalem.
  2. The annual commemoration service of founders and benefactors of Oxford University.

    I am but just returned from two great shews that have been exhibited lately the review at Portsmouth and the encenia at Oxford.

    1773, Joshua Reynolds, edited by John Ingamells and John Edgcumbe, The Letters of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Yale, published 2000, page 43

Encaenia2

nounEncaenia (plural Encaenias)

plural Encaenias

  1. The eight days of celebration for the dedication of the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
  2. An academic ceremony in which degrees or awards are given out.

Origin

encaenia · noun

  1. Ancient Greek(τὰ) ἐγκαίνια“dedication festival”
  2. Latinencaenia
  3. Englishencaenia

From Latin encaenia, from Ancient Greek (τὰ) ἐγκαίνια ((tà) enkaínia, “dedication festival”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + καινός (kainós, “new”).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Encaenia · noun

  1. Ancient Greekἐγκαίνια“a festival of renewal or dedication”
  2. Latinencaenia
  3. EnglishEncaenia

From Latin encaenia, from Ancient Greek ἐγκαίνια (enkaínia, “a festival of renewal or dedication”).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

encaenia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/encaenia

MLA

“encaenia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/encaenia. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “encaenia,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/encaenia.

Source: encaenia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.