Also 4–5 -cioun, 5 -tyown, -cyone, 5–6 -cyon, -cion, (5 corenacyon, 6 cronation, 7 corronation). [a. OF. coronacion, -ation (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. type *corōnātiōn-em, n. of action f. corōnāre to CROWN. (In 16–17th c. refashioned as CROWNATION, q.v.)]
1. The action of crowning; the ceremony of investing a sovereign, or the consort of a sovereign, with a crown as an emblem of royal dignity, on or soon after his accession.
1388. Wyclif, 2 Sam., Prol. This secounde book of Kingis makith mencioun of the coronacioun of Dauith.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, li. (1890), 193. The coronacyon of sadoyn and of his wyff Beatryx.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., IV. i. 3. You come to … behold The Lady Anne, passe from her Corronation.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 261. The stone on which the emperors formerly kneeled at their coronation.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. v. 381. He does not seem to have received the ecclesiastical rite of coronation.
b. transf. and fig. (e.g., ‘crowning’ at draughts).
1426. Audelay, Poems, 55. Vij blodes Crist he bled … The fourth in his coronacion [with the crown of thorns].
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 13. The day of our owne coronation with an incorruptible crowne of glorie.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., 27. The loss of three of her men [at draughts] at a swoop aggravated by the coronation of an opponent.
2. fig. Crowning of a work; completion.
1582. Bentley, Mon. Matrones, Pref. Prayer, The saluation of our soules, and the coronation of thy gifts in vs.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589), 491. Mingling togither their blood for a … coronation of their long and perfect love.
1845. T. W. Coit, Puritanism, 393. This is about the coronation of a climax, some will surely think.
3. attrib. and Comb. Coronation oath, that taken by a sovereign at his coronation.
1587. Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 25. For bread & drinke which the ringers toke on the coronation day, vj d.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 195. A cough sir, which I caught with Ringing in the Kings affayres, vpon his Coronation day, sir.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3804/2. The Treasurer of the Houshold threw about the Coronation Medals.
1709. Refl. Sacheverell’s Serm., 6. By the first of William and Mary, chap. vi. the Coronation-Oath is establish’d.
1832. Blackw. Mag., Jan., 139/2. A kind and good King, whose coronation robes are but a few months old.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Relig., Wks. (Bohn), II. 97. Handel’s coronation anthem … was played by Dr. Camidge on the organ.
