Also 4 encenia, encennia, 5 encenye. [a. L. encænia, a. Gr. (τὰ) ἐγκαίνια dedication festival, f. ἐν in + καινός new.]
† 1. A renewal; a dedicatory festival.
138[?]. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 105. Encennia is as myche as newinge in our speche.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 119. Þat halowynge [of the temple] is i-clepede Encenia.
2. The anniversary festival of the dedication of a temple or church: esp. (among the Jews) of the Temple at Jerusalem.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. xxxiv. (1495), 370. Encennia is the dedicacion and halowynge of a newe temple.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 285/1. The fest of Encenye … was the dedycacion of the Temple.
1673. Cave, Prim. Chr., I. vi. 124. The Encænia of the ancient Church are annual festivals in memory of the dedication of their particular Churches.
1721–1800. Bailey, Encænia, among Christians signifies the Consecration or Wake-days of Churches.
3. The annual Commemoration of founders and benefactors at Oxford University, held in June.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 474. Jeremias Wells … spoke in verse in the first Encænia at the dedication of Sheldons Theater.
1870. W. Collins, Man & Wife (1871), 466. App., The Vice-Chancellor announced that if the proceedings were interrupted any more the Encænia would be abruptly closed.
