[a. F. commémoration, or ad. L. commemorātiōn-em, n. of action f. commemorāre (see prec.).]
1. † a. The action of calling to the remembrance of a hearer or reader; recital, mention (obs.). b. Eulogistic or honorable mention.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 48. He maketh a commemoration of such feates as he had done.
1631. Heywood, Lond. Jus Honor., Wks. 1874, IV. 280. Vlisses … vseth this short Commemoration, of all that hath been included in the former pageants.
1823. Byron, Juan, VII. xvi. Yet there were several [names] worth commemoration.
2. A calling to remembrance, or preserving in memory, by some solemn observance, public celebration, etc.; ‘solemnization of the memory of anything’ (J.).
1382. Wyclif, Luke xxii. 19. Do ȝe this thing in to my commemoracioun.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 235. For to haue a lytel commemoracion of god tofore or the soule shold departe fro his body.
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion. To celebrate the commemoration of the most glorious death of thy Son.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 91. All the solemn days kept in commemoration and gratitude for our Saviours Nativity, Passion, etc.
1779. Gentl. Mag., XLIX. 97. The commemoration of the Martyrdom of King Charles Ist.
b. Eccles. A service, or a short form of prayer added to a service, in memory of a saint or of a sacred event; spec. the observance of a lesser feast by inserting parts of the service appropriate to it in that of a greater feast, when the two fall on the same day; the mention by name of persons living or departed in the prayers of the Eucharistic service.
Formerly specifically applied to the festivals of St. Paul, and All Saints.
a. 1400. Table of Lessons, etc., in Wyclif, Bible, IV. 697. Here … bigynneth the Comemoracioun of the Trinite … The Commemoracioun of oure Ladi in Aduent. Ibid., IV. 692. Commemoracioun of Seynt Poul.
a. 1699. Stillingfl. (J.). St. Austin believed that the martyrs, when the commemorations were made at their own sepulchres, did join their prayers with the churches, in behalf of those who there put up their supplications to God.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), II. App. 332. The several commemorations and antiphons with which the Service frequently closed. Ibid., II. App. 378. The next day was therefore chosen for the Commemoration of Beda.
1872. W. E. Scudamore, Notitia Euchar., 380. S. Cyril of Jerusalem mentions the commemoration of the departed as taking place after the Consecration.
1883. Cath. Dict., s.v., The common commemorations consist of antiphons, versicles and prayers relating to the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, St. Peter and St. Paul, the Patron or title of the church, and peace…. They are preceded on ferias by a commemoration of the Cross.
c. At Oxford, an annual celebration, held in the Act or Trinity Term, in memory of the Founders and Benefactors of the University, in whose honor a Latin Oration is delivered. The name is now used to include all the associated proceedings of the Encænia. (Cf. COMMEMORATE v. 1, 1714.).
[1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 191. In our two Universities, it is usual for Colleges to observe a Commemoration of their Founders and other famous Men, by whose Beneficence the College has been endow’d.]
1750. Gentl. Mag., 328. Monday, July 2 Was celebrated at Oxford the solemnity of commemorating all the benefactors of the University according to the institution of Nathaniel Lord Crewe, Bp. of Durham…. The whole was conducted with great decorum. Ibid. (1759), 342. Wednesday 4 [July] Being the day of Lord Crewe’s commemoration, the procession was again repeated to the theatre; the encænia, or congratulatory exercises, were continued. Friday 6 The encænia were resumed in the Theatre. Saturday 7 The solemnity of the installment, and commemoration, was closed by Dr. King. Ibid. (1761), 329. (Thursday July 2) The commemoration began at Oxford, and the public orations were spoken by Mess. Warton and Shebheare.
a. 1884. M. Pattison, Mem., 106. Commemoration was very late in 1832.
1886. Oxford Univ. Calendar, 43. Portions of the successful Compositions … are read each year at the Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors.
d. A public memorial.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., V. (1682), 201. I saw a pillar of Brass erected there for a commemoration of that unnatural murther of Cain.
1836. Morley, Geo. Eliot, Crit. Misc. III. 94. If George Eliot had insisted that her works should remain the only commemoration of her life.
3. Comb., as commemoration-day, -week, -ball, -flower-show, etc. (sense 2 c).
1779. Gentl. Mag., XLIX. 372. The commemoration speech was spoken by the Rev. Mr. Randolph. Ibid., 643. I transcribe for you from Mr. Doughty’s Commemoration Sermon.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 635. Ten thousand sit Patiently present at a sacred song, Commemoration-mad; content to hear Messiah’s eulogy, for Handel’s sake.
a. 1884. M. Pattison, Mem., 106. At that time [1832], you could not keep your term if you left before noon on commemoration day.
Hence Commemorational a., of or relating to commemoration; Commemorationism, the principle and practice of holding commemoration; Commemorationist.
1880. J. Hawthorne, Ellice Quentin, I. 92. He had written quite a number of poems, odes, lyrics, and sonnets, philosophical, commemorational, imaginative, and erotic.
1864. Masson, in Reader, 16 Jan., 67. We confess to a sympathy with Anti-Commemorationism in general. Ibid. The Commemorationists … think that it is a right and proper thing to have occasional public celebrations of important anniversaries.
