ceremonious

comparative more ceremonious · superlative most ceremonious

1. According to the required or usual ceremonies, formalities, or rituals; specifically (Christianity, obsolete), to ceremonial laws in the Bible.

   [L]et vs take a ceremonious leaue, / And louing farevvell of our ſeuerall friends.

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], signature B2, verso

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   VVhen vve deſcribe our ſenſations of another's ſorrovvs, either in friendly or ceremonious condolence, the cuſtoms of the vvorld ſcarcely admit of rigid veracity.

   1759 March 31, [Samuel Johnson], “The Idler. No. 51.”, in The Universal Chronicle, or Weekly Gazette, volume II, number 52, London: […] R. Stevens, […], →OCLC, page 1, column 2

   Bingley, she had likewise seen for an instant, and in that short period saw him looking both pleased and embarrassed. He was received by Mrs. Bennet with a degree of civility, which made her two daughters ashamed, especially when contrasted with the cold and ceremonious politeness of her curtsey and address to his friend.

   1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter XI, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 202

   Antonyms: inceremonious, unceremonious

2. Involving much ceremony; ostentatious, showy.

   O, the Sacrifice, / Hovv ceremonious, ſolemne, and vn-earthly / It vvas i'th' Offring?

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 286, column 1

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   This is the day, when, in a foreign grave, / King Owen [Owain Gwynedd]'s relics shall be laid to rest. / […] / No mitred abbots, and no tonsured train, / Lengthened the pomp of ceremonious woe.

   1805, Robert Southey, “Canto V”, in Madoc, London: […] [F]or Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and A[rchibald] Constable and Co, […], by James Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, part I (Madoc in Wales), page 222

   He descended to the cabin to bid a ceremonious, and, it may be, tacitly rebukeful adieu.

   1855 October–December, Herman Melville, “Benito Cereno”, in Billy Budd and Other Stories, London: John Lehmann, published 1951, →OCLC, page 187

   Synonyms: circumstantial

3. Of a person: fond of ceremony or ritual, or of observing strict etiquette or formality; punctilious.

   Ancient and oriental cultures are in many ways more conventional, more ceremonious, and more courteous than our own.

   1958, C[live] S[taples] Lewis, “The Cursings”, in Reflections on the Psalms, London: Geoffrey Bles, →OCLC, page 23

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   [S]ome VVriters do almoſt nothing contrary to yͤ cuſtome, and ſome by vertue of that Priuiledge, dare doe any thing. I am neither of that firſt order, nor of this laſt. The one is too fondly-ceremonious, the other too impudently audacious. I vvalke in the midſt (ſo vvell as I can) betvveene both.

   1608, Thomas Dekker, “To the Very Worthy Gentleman, Mr Francis Mustian, of Peckham”, in Lanthorne and Candle-light. Or The Bell-mans Second Nights Walke. […], London: […] [George Eld] for Iohn Busbie, […], →OCLC, signature A2, recto

   His onely delight is building, he ſpends himſelfe to get curious intricate models and plots, another is vvholly ceremonious about titles, degrees, inſcriptions.

   1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “An Heape of Other Accidents Causing Melancholy. Death of Friends, Losses, &c.”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 1, section 2, member 4, subsection 7, page 148

   Synonyms: ceremonial · Antonyms: inceremonious, unceremonious

4. Synonym of ceremonial (“of, relating to, consisting of, or used in a ceremony or rite”); formal, ritual.

   They [gentiles] may alſo theſiyer [the easier] bee allured to the Chriſtian fayth, for that it is more agreable to the lawe of nature then eyther the cerimonious lawe of Moiſes, or portentous fables of Mahometes Alcharon.

   1555, Richard Eden, “Rycharde Eden to the Reader”, in Peter Martyr of Angleria [i.e., Peter Martyr d’Anghiera], translated by Rycharde Eden, The Decades of the Newe Worlde or West India, […], London: […] [Rycharde Jug for] Guilhelmi Powell, →OCLC

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   The other Princes vvere reſerued to a more opportune maſſacre, vntil Sultan Currovvn had entred Agra, and receiued the Imperial Crovvne and Scepter, vvith other Ceremonious rites due to the Coronation, of the Great Moguls.

   1634, T[homas] H[erbert], “Mohelia, Its Description”, in A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC, page 34

   Synonyms: ceremonial