solemnize

C2 Topic:Religion & Belief

Also spelled solemnising

US /ˈsɑːləmnaɪz/ UK /ˈsɒləmnaɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #130121

Meanings

1

verb
to perform the official or religious ceremony of a marriage

A civil celebrant will solemnize the marriage at the town hall.
2

verb
to observe or honor an occasion with formal rites or ceremony

The community gathered to solemnize the anniversary with prayers and music.
3

verb
to make a person, mood, or occasion serious, grave, or dignified

The silence of the memorial garden seemed to solemnize every visitor.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to perform the official or... officiate celebrate formalize

2 verb · to observe or honor an... observe commemorate celebrate

3 verb · to make a person, mood, or... dignifymake solemnmake grave

Opposites

trivializeprofane

Word family

Derived forms solemnizationsolemnizerresolemnize

Related forms solemn solemnity ceremony rite marriage

Etymology

From Late Middle English solempnisen, through Old French solemniser, from Medieval Latin solemnizare, based on Latin sollemnis, 'customary, formal, or celebrated at a fixed time.' Its ceremonial senses came first; 'make serious or grave' developed from the dignity associated with formal observance.

Topics

Religion & Belief

External links

# solemnize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɑːləmnaɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɒləmnaɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 130121

## Meanings
1. to perform the official or religious ceremony of a marriage
2. to observe or honor an occasion with formal rites or ceremony
3. to make a person, mood, or occasion serious, grave, or dignified

## Examples
- A civil celebrant will solemnize the marriage at the town hall.
- The community gathered to solemnize the anniversary with prayers and music.
- The silence of the memorial garden seemed to solemnize every visitor.

## Synonyms
- officiate
- celebrate
- formalize
- observe
- commemorate
- dignify

## Antonyms
- trivialize
- profane

## Derived Forms
- solemnization
- solemnizer
- resolemnize

## Related Forms
- solemn
- solemnity
- ceremony
- rite
- marriage

## Etymology
From Late Middle English solempnisen, through Old French solemniser, from Medieval Latin solemnizare, based on Latin sollemnis, 'customary, formal, or celebrated at a fixed time.' Its ceremonial senses came first; 'make serious or grave' developed from the dignity associated with formal observance.

## Topics
- Religion & Belief

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