[ad. L. celebritāt-em, f. celebr-em famous, thronged; cf. F. célébrité.]
† 1. Due observance of rites and ceremonies; pomp, solemnity. Obs.
1612. Brerewood, Lang. & Relig., Pref. (1635), 4. Their generall Synods, which within these few yeeres they haue frequently held with great celebrity.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 585. Whose body … was remoued with all celebritie, and enshrined.
† 2. A solemn rite or ceremony, a celebration.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., Chronol. C iv a. As touching this celebrity of Sports, see Capitolinus.
1640. Bp. Hall, Chr. Moder., 9/2. Small cheer in comparison of that which he prepared for the celebrity of his son Isaac’s weaning.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 6. The celebrities of his Fathers Funerall would be over.
1661. S. Stone (title), Sermon at St. Paul’s, 20 Oct…. At the first Celebrity of Divine Service with the Organ and Choristers.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. 61. It generally shewed itself at times, when a celebrity was held.
3. The condition of being much extolled or talked about; famousness, notoriety.
1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. viii. § 8. The dignity and celebrity of mother cities should be respected.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 165, ¶ 6. I did not find myself yet enriched in proportion to my celebrity.
1838. Arnold, Hist. Rome, I. 332. Recommended to public notice by the celebrity of their family.
1863. M. Arnold, in Macm. Mag., 7 Jan., 255. They [Spinoza’s successors] had celebrity, Spinoza has fame.
4. concr. A person of celebrity; a celebrated person; a public character.
1849. Miss Mulock, Ogilvies, ii. Did you see any of those ‘celebrities,’ as you call them?
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, xi. Wks. (Bohn), II. 86. One of the celebrities of wealth and fashion confessed … that [etc.].
1876. C. M. Davies, Unorth. Lond., 99. I expected to find the New Jerusalem Church thronged with the spiritual celebrities of London.
