ceremony

plural ceremonies · Early Modern plural ceremonys · alternative Early Modern caeremony · alternative Early Modern cæremony · alternative Early Modern caerimony · alternative Early Modern cærimony · alternative Early Modern ceremoney · alternative Early Modern cerimony · alternative Early Modern cerimoney · alternative South Asia nonstandard ceremoney

1. countableuncountableA ritual, with religious or cultural significance.

   Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.

   1881, Henry James, Jr., chapter 1, in The Portrait of a Lady, New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC, page 1

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   To whom the Priest with naked armes full net Approching nigh, and murdrous knife well whet, Gan mutter close a certaine secret charme, With other diuelish ceremonies met:

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, pages 463-464

   In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep [the passover] in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 9:3

   This year, due to the fact that the 24th of the Hebrew month of Tishrei falls on Shabbat, the ceremonies will be held on Sunday, the 25th of Tishrei, as they will be every year when the 24th of Tishrei falls on Shabbat.

   2024 March 17, “Government Unanimously Approves National Remembrance Day for October 7 Disaster and the Swords of Iron War”, in gov.il, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2025

2. countableuncountableAn official gathering to celebrate, commemorate, or otherwise mark some event.

   a graduation ceremony, an opening ceremony

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   Promontory's "last spike" ceremony was so significant to the USA's history that it is still regularly re-enacted today, using replica locomotives that nose up to each other just as the originals did.

   2025 November 12, Tony Streeter, “All around the world”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 42

   1. countableuncountableA wedding ceremony; a marriage.
3. uncountableA formal socially established behaviour, often in relation to people of different ranks; formality.

   They went into the bars and interrupted the drinking, hustling the men out without ceremony.

   1959, C. S. Forester, Hunting the Bismarck, London: Michael Joseph

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   […] to feed were best at home; From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it.

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]

   Monsieur Bridet, notwithstanding his costume and his evident harrassment [sic], found in himself the presence of mind to remain the attentive manager, and with ceremony effected the proper introduction.

   1928, W. Somerset Maugham, “Miss King”, in Ashenden, New York: Avon, published 1943, page 37

4. uncountableShow of magnificence, display, ostentation.

   Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony And trumpet’s sound, throughout the host proclaim A solemn council forthwith to be held At Pandemonium […]

   1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 752-756

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   Immediately after her arrival, the queen rode forth to survey the camp and its environs: wherever she went, she was attended by a splendid retinue; and all the commanders vied with each other, in the pomp and ceremony with which they received her.

   1829, Washington Irving, chapter 46, in A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada, volume II, Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, page 254

5. countableobsoleteuncountableAn accessory or object associated with a ritual.

   […] his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man […]

   1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

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   […] Well, believe this, No ceremony that to great ones ’longs, Not the king’s crown, nor the deputed sword, The marshal’s truncheon, nor the judge’s robe, Become them with one half so good a grace As mercy does.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

6. countableobsoleteuncountableAn omen or portent.

   Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me.

   1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

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   For he is superstitious grown of late, Quite from the main opinion he held once Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies.

   1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]