ovation
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: [ə(ʊ)ˈveɪ.ʃn̩]
ipa: /oʊˈveɪ.ʃən/
ipa: [oʊˈveɪ.ʃn̩]
ipa: /əʉˈvæɪ.ʃn̩/
rhymes: -eɪʃən
Forms: form: ovations
Etymology: Learned borrowing from Latin ovātiōnem.
Senses: examples: text: Triumph, a Solemn Honour done to Generals after great Victories, receiving them into Town with Publick Acclamations; there were two ſorts among the Romans; the Great, that was ſimply called Tr[i]umph; and the Little called, Ovation; […] [I]t was by Special Priviledge that L. Cornelius Lentulus, Proconſul, was admitted to this Honour of an Ovation, in 553. […]
ref: 1703, “Triumph”, in An Universal, Historical, Geographical, Chronological and Poetical Dictionary, […], volumes II (M–Z), London: […] J[ohn] Hartley, […]; W. Turner, […]; and Tho[mas] Hodgson, […], →OCLC:
text: The Dictator [Mamercus Aemilius Mamercinus] was allow'd a Triumph, and [Aulus Cornelius] Coſſus an Ovation, wherein he appear'd with the Spoils of K[ing] Volumnius [i.e., Lars Tolumnius], and fix'd them as a ſolemn Offering in the Temple of Jupiter Feretrius, being the firſt Spolia Opima that had been brought thither ſince the Time of Romulus.
ref: 1711, “Italy”, in Atlas Geographicus, or, A Compleat System of Geography, Ancient and Modern. […], volume II, in the Savoy [London]: Printed by John Nutt; and sold by Benjamin Barker and Charles King […], →OCLC, page 1404, column 2:
text: He who had no more than an Ovation granted him, was not crown'd with Laurel, but Myrtle: The Senate, however, and all the ſeveral Orders of Magiſtrates went to meet him. […] It was the way at firſt in Ovations for the Conqueror to go on Foot, but the Cuſtom of riding on Horſeback was afterwards introduc'd. […] Inſtead of bulls, the Victims us'd in the greater Triumphs, they had Sheep in their Ovations, or rather Rams crown'd, which were led before the Conqueror, in order to be ſacrific'd when the Proceſſion was over.
ref: 1722, [Bernard de] Montfaucon, “The Triumph for a Naval Victory. II. What the Ovatio was. III. The Ceremonies of the Ovation.”, in David Humphreys, transl., Antiquity Explained, and Represented in Sculptures, … Translated into English, volume III, London: Printed by J[acob] Tonson and J. Watts, →OCLC, book VI (Of the Marks of Victory, […]), paragraph III, pages 104–105:
text: How attentive were the Romans to the language of ſigns! They wore garments peculiar to their different ranks and ages; they had their togas, and diſtinguiſhing ornaments of various kinds, their roſtrums, their lictors, their faſces, their crowns, ovations, triumphs, &c. all was parade and ceremony; and all had its effect on the minds of the citizens.
ref: 1763 January, [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau, “The Difference between Ancient and Modern Eloquence”, in The London Magazine: Or, Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer, volume XXXII, London: Printed for R[ichard] Baldwin, […], →OCLC, page 38:
glosses: A victory ceremony of less importance than a triumph.
examples: text: Proceede then in your bleſt Inauguration, / And celebrate this Annuall Ovation; / Whilſt you nor this way, nor to that way leane, / But ſhunne th' extreames, to keepe the golden meane.
ref: 1631, Thomas Heywood, “Vlisses [i.e., Ulysses] His Speech”, in Londons Ius Honorarium. Exprest in Sundry Triumphs, Pagiants, and Shews: At the Initiation or Entrance of the Right Honourable George Whitmore, into the Maioralty of the Famous and Farre Renowned City of London. […], printed at London: By Nicholas Okes, →OCLC:
text: May 19. [1649] Oliver Cromwell Lieutenant General of the Parliament Army was then alſo created Dr. of Civil Law. […] [H]is atchievment was induſtriouſly cried up at Weſtminſter and all the Grandees of Scriptural Ovation were fitted and accommodated thereunto.
ref: 1691, [Anthony Wood], “Fasti Oxonienses”, in Athenæ Oxonienses. An Exact History of All the Writers and Bishops who have had Their Education in the Most Ancient and Famous University of Oxford from the Fifteenth Year of King Henry the Seventh, Dom. 1500, to the End of the Year 1690. […], volume I (Extending to the 16th Year of King Charles I. Dom. 1640), London: […] Tho[mas] Bennet […], →OCLC, columns 768–769:
text: As when a Wolf or Fox too long does fleece / The Non-reſiſting Lambs, or Paſſive Geeſe, / The Peaſants take th' alarm, and ſeize the Foe, / And ſhouting Boys in long Ovation go: […]
ref: 1708, Thomas Brown, “[Epigrams, Poems, and Satyrs, on Sir R—— Bl——re’s King Arthur & Prince Arthur, the Satyr against Wit, and Job & Habakkuk.] Upon the Pensioners in the Parliament.”, in The Works of Mr. Thomas Brown, in Prose and Verse. Serious, Moral, & Comical. In Three Volumes. …, 2nd edition, London: Printed by S[am] Briscoe, and sold by B. Bragg, […], →OCLC, page 160:
text: I saw reverend prelates, who, tearing off their lawn, put themſelves into red coats, and ſoon obtained triumphs and ovations; while others dwindled into pariſh clerks, and village pedagogues.
ref: 1755 July 3, “Thursday, July 3, 1755”, in Adam Fitz-adam [pseudonym; Edward Moore], editor, The World, new edition, volume III, number 131, London: Printed for J[ames] Dodsley, […], published 1772, →OCLC, page 161:
text: Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.
ref: 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 78:
glosses: A (ceremony for the) recognition of some achievement.
examples: text: First things first – everyone at Southampton enjoyed a thrilling Euro 2020 qualifier that led to a rousing ovation for both sides at the conclusion of England's chaotic 5-3 victory.
ref: 2019 September 10, Phil McNulty, “‘England Horribly Fallible in Defence’ against Kosovo in Euro 2020 Qualifying”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 15 Sep 2019:
synonyms: booing
jeering
hissing
glosses: Prolonged enthusiastic applause.
Derived terms: ovational
ovationary
standing ovation