solemn

English

WOTD – 10 March 2021

Etymology

From Middle English solempne, solemne (performed with religious ceremony or reverence; devoted to religious observances, sacred; ceremonious, formal; of a vow: made under a religious sanction, binding; religious celebration, celebration of a feast day; famous, well-known; important; grand, imposing; awe-inspiring, impressive; grave, serious; dignified; enunciated or held formally) [and other forms],[1] from Old French solempne, solemne (serious, solemn) [and other forms], or from its etymon Late Latin sōlempnis, sōlennis, from Latin sōlemnis, from sollemnis (appointed, established, fixed; common, customary, ordinary, ritual, traditional, usual; ceremonial, religious, solemn; festive; annual, yearly) [and other forms]. The further etymology is uncertain;[2] sollus (entire, whole) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (whole)) + epulum (banquet, feast) (in the sense of a ritual; perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ed- (to eat)) has been suggested.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈsɒləm/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈsɑləm/
  • Audio (General American):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɒləm
  • Hyphenation: sol‧emn

Adjective

solemn (comparative solemner or more solemn, superlative solemnest or most solemn)

  1. (religion, specifically Christianity) Of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites; (generally) religious in nature; sacred.
  2. (by extension)
    1. Characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality.
      • 1993, Miklós Boskovits, The Origins of Florentine Painting, 1100-1270, volume 1, page 33:
        Whereas the accentuated linearism, the angular stylization of the folds, the rhythmical course of the outlining and the solemn frontality conjoined with an air of regality in the pose seem to recall the formal repertory of the Corbolinus Master and his group []
    2. Deeply serious and sombre; grave.
      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:serious
      Antonyms: lighthearted, unserious
    3. Inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive.
      Synonym: awe-inspiring
    4. (obsolete) Cheerless, gloomy, sombre.
      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:cheerless
      Antonyms: cheerful; see also Thesaurus:blissful

Derived terms

Translations

References

Further reading

Anagrams

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin sollemnis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /soˈlemn/

Adjective

solemn m or n (feminine singular solemnă, masculine plural solemni, feminine and neuter plural solemne)

  1. solemn, grave, serious
    Synonyms: grav, serios
  2. impressive, exalted
  3. festive, celebratory
    Synonyms: festiv, sărbătoresc

Declension

Declension of solemn
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative-
accusative
indefinite solemn solemnă solemni solemne
definite solemnul solemna solemnii solemnele
genitive-
dative
indefinite solemn solemne solemni solemne
definite solemnului solemnei solemnilor solemnelor