ceremonious

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌsɛrəˈmoʊniəs/ UK /ˌsɛrɪˈməʊniəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
marked by formal politeness or elaborate ritual

He gave a ceremonious bow before leaving the hall.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · marked by formal politeness... formal stately punctilious decorousritualisticcourtly solemn

Opposites

informal casualunceremoniousrelaxed

Word family

Forms ceremoniouslyunceremoniousunceremoniously

Derived forms ceremoniouslyceremoniousness

Related forms ceremony ceremonial

Etymology

From Latin caerimoniosus, from caerimonia ('sacredness, ritual observance'), of uncertain ultimate origin.

caerimonia Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# ceremonious

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌsɛrəˈmoʊniəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌsɛrɪˈməʊniəs/

## Meanings
1. marked by formal politeness or elaborate ritual

## Examples
- He gave a ceremonious bow before leaving the hall.

## Synonyms
- formal
- stately
- punctilious
- decorous
- ritualistic
- courtly
- solemn

## Antonyms
- informal
- casual
- unceremonious
- relaxed

## Derived Forms
- ceremoniously
- ceremoniousness

## Related Forms
- ceremony
- ceremonial

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: caerimonia

## Etymology
From Latin caerimoniosus, from caerimonia ('sacredness, ritual observance'), of uncertain ultimate origin.

## AI Etymology
Ceremonious is an adjective meaning "marked by formal politeness or elaborate ritual". Historically, it is from Latin caerimoniosus, from caerimonia ('sacredness, ritual observance'), of uncertain ultimate origin. The older history should therefore be treated cautiously rather than as settled. The historical chain is anchored in Latin caerimonia. Close English family members include ceremoniously, ceremoniousness, ceremony, and ceremonial.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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