ceremony

noun ceremonies · ceremonys · caeremony · cæremony · caerimony · cærimony

1. countable, uncountable A ritual, with religious or cultural significance. 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:
2. countable, uncountable An official gathering to celebrate, commemorate, or otherwise mark some event. a graduation ceremony, an opening ceremony
3. countable, uncountable A wedding ceremony; a marriage.
4. uncountable A formal socially established behaviour, often in relation to people of different ranks; formality. […] to feed were best at home; From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it.
5. uncountable Show 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 […]
6. countable, obsolete, uncountable An accessory or object associated with a ritual. […] his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man […]
7. countable, obsolete, uncountable An omen or portent. For he is superstitious grown of late, Quite from the main opinion he held once Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies.