solemn
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈsɒləm/
ipa: /ˈsɑləm/
rhymes: -ɒləm
Forms: form: solemner
form: more solemn
form: solemnest
form: most solemn
Etymology: From Middle English solempne, solemne (“performed with religious ceremony or reverence; devoted to religious observances, sacred; ceremonious, formal; of a vow: made under a religious sanction, binding; religious celebration, celebration of a feast day; famous, well-known; important; grand, imposing; awe-inspiring, impressive; grave, serious; dignified; enunciated or held formally”) [and other forms], from Old French solempne, solemne (“serious, solemn”) [and other forms], or from its etymon Late Latin sōlempnis, sōlennis, from Latin sōlemnis, from sollemnis (“appointed, established, fixed; common, customary, ordinary, ritual, traditional, usual; ceremonial, religious, solemn; festive; annual, yearly”) [and other forms]. The further etymology is uncertain; sollus (“entire, whole”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole”)) + epulum (“banquet, feast”) (in the sense of a ritual; perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ed- (“to eat”)) has been suggested.
Senses: topics: Christianity
lifestyle
religion
glosses: Of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites; (generally) religious in nature; sacred.
examples: text: Whereas the accentuated linearism, the angular stylization of the folds, the rhythmical course of the outlining and the solemn frontality conjoined with an air of regality in the pose seem to recall the formal repertory of the Corbolinus Master and his group […]
ref: 1993, Miklós Boskovits, The Origins of Florentine Painting, 1100-1270, volume 1, page 33:
glosses: Characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality.
synonyms: word: austere
word: frightful
word: demure
word: serious
word: grave
word: earnest
word: grievous
word: lack-laughter
word: thoughtful
word: sad
word: sage
word: saturnine
word: sedate
word: solemn
word: solemncholy
word: sober
word: somber
word: sombre
word: staid
word: stern
word: sweer
word: weightsome
word: weighty
antonyms: lighthearted
unserious
glosses: Deeply serious and sombre; grave.
synonyms: awe-inspiring
glosses: Inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive.
synonyms: word: cheerless
word: comfortless
word: bleak
word: dark
word: depressing
word: desolate
word: dire
word: disconsolate
word: dismal
word: doleful
word: dolesome
word: drear
word: drearisome
word: dreary
word: dreich
word: forlorn
word: gayless
word: gray
word: gloomsome
word: gloomy
word: grim
word: joyless
word: lack-laughter
word: lugubrious
word: melancholy
word: mirthless
word: miserable
word: no joke
word: saturnine
word: solemn
word: somber
word: sombre
word: spiritless
word: sullen
word: sunless
word: uncheerful
word: uncheery
word: unhappy
word: unmerry
word: wintry
word: woeful
antonyms: word: cheerful
word: blue
word: bummed out
word: depressed
word: discontented
word: down
word: grieving
word: sad
word: sorrowful
word: unhappy
glosses: Cheerless, gloomy, sombre.
Derived terms: word: lodge solemn representation
word: solemncholy
word: solemnify
word: solemniously
word: solemnly
word: solemn mass
word: solemnness
word: solemnsides
word: solemn vow
Related terms: word: solemnisation
word: solemnization
word: solemniser
word: solemnizer
word: solemnise
word: solemnize
word: solemnising
word: solemnizing
word: solemnity