[ad. L. celebrātiōnem, noun of action f. celebrā-re to CELEBRATE.]
1. The performance of a solemn ceremony; spec. the action of celebrating the eucharist.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1622), 19 (J.). He laboured … to hasten the celebration of their marriage.
1662. Office Holy Commun. Rubric 3rd Exhort. (1844), § 346. The Celebration of the Communion.
1678. Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, V. iii. § 9. 474/1. Telesphorus … instituted … the celebration of three Masses the night of our Saviour’s birth.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), III. 393. Epitaph on a lady who dropt down dead, during the celebration of her nuptials.
1829. Southey, All for Love, iv. The Church hath been prepared for spousal celebration.
Mod. She has gone to early celebration.
2. The observing of a feast, day, or special season; the honoring or recognizing of an event by religious ceremonies, festivities, etc.
1529. More, Supplic. Souls, Wks. 318/2. Our sauiour hymself went to the celebracion of that same feast.
c. 1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., IV. i. 10. They are euer forward In Celebration of this day.
1659. Pearson, Creed (1839), 377. The Jews do still retain the celebration of the seventh day of the week.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess. Art, Wks. (Bohn), I. 151. Picture and sculpture are the celebrations and festivities of form.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Saxon Ch. (1858), I. i. 46. Celebration of Easter.
3. Making famous, publicly praising, extolling; in pl. laudatory speeches.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VIII. (1707), 574 (J.). His memory deserving a particular celebration.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 104, ¶ 10. Have never been denied any celebrations which they were willing to purchase. Ibid. (1779), L. P., Prior, Wks. III. 132. The Carmen Seculare, in which he exhausts all his powers of celebration.
† 4. = CELEBRITY; renown. Obs.
1710. Palmer, Proverbs, viii. The vulgar have a title … to convey the honour of celebration to a saying.
1779. Johnson, L. P., Pope, Wks. IV. 44. That house at Twickenham to which his residence afterwards procured so much celebration.
