solemn

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈsɑləm/ UK /ˈsɒləm/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
formal, serious, and dignified; grave

They observed a solemn moment of silence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · formal, serious, and... grave serious dignified ceremonious formal sober earnest stately

Opposites

frivolous lighthearted cheerful flippant

Word family

Derived forms solemnly solemnity solemnizesolemnness

Etymology

From Old French solempne, from Latin sollemnis ('annual, customary, ceremonial, sacred'), perhaps from sollus ('whole, entire') + annus ('year').

sollemnis Latin sollus Latin

View etymology graph ->

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Describing Qualities Register & Style

# solemn

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˈsɑləm
**IPA (UK):** ˈsɒləm

## Meanings
1. formal, serious, and dignified; grave

## Examples
- They observed a solemn moment of silence.

## Synonyms
- grave
- serious
- dignified
- ceremonious
- formal
- sober
- earnest
- stately

## Antonyms
- frivolous
- lighthearted
- cheerful
- flippant

## Derived Forms
- solemnly
- solemnity
- solemnize
- solemnness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: sollemnis
- Root: sollus

## Etymology
From Old French solempne, from Latin sollemnis ('annual, customary, ceremonial, sacred'), perhaps from sollus ('whole, entire') + annus ('year').

## AI Etymology
Solemn comes from Old French solempne, from Latin sollemnis ('annual, customary, ceremonial, sacred'), perhaps from sollus ('whole, entire') + annus ('year'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "formal, serious, and dignified; grave", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin sollemnis and Latin sollus. Derivative forms include solemnly, solemnity, solemnize, solemnness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Register & Style

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solemn

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