Forms: 4–6 solempnise (5 -ese, -ish), 5–6 -yse, -yze, 6–7 solempnize; 6– solemnise (6 -yse), solemnize. [ad. OF. solem(p)niser, -izer (= Sp. and Pg. solemnizar), or med.L. solemnizare: see SOLEMN a. and -IZE. In older verse the stressing sole·mnize occasionally appears.]
1. trans. To dignify or honor by ceremonies; to celebrate or commemorate by special observances or with special formality.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Esdras i. 20. There is not solempnisid such a pasch in Irael, fro the times of Samuel.
1460. Capgr., Chron. (Rolls), 66. Hermes wrot a book that Estern day schuld evyr be solempnyzed on a Sunday.
1480. Caxton, Myrr., III. x. 155. To solempnise suche dayes as holy chyrche hath ordeyned.
1530. Palsgr., 724/2. The bouchers in London solempnyse saynte Lukes daye above all feestes in the yere.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 272. To the end the better to solemnize his entrie to the crowne, commaunded a sumptuous and pompous banket to be prepared.
1623. Lisle, Ælfric on O. & N. Test. Many thousands of Angels solemnised his birth with heavenly songs.
1652. Loveday, trans. Calprenède’s Cleopatra, I. 22. These two enraged Princes solemniz’d their mutuall fury by the death of so many thousands.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Antiq., XIX. vii. § 1. Agrippa was solemnizing his birth-day.
1787. Burns, Ode Birthday Pr. Chas. Edward, 15. We solemnize this sorrowing natal day, To prove our loyal truth.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, xliii. V. 317. The king solemnized his triumph with great magnificence at Dium.
2. To celebrate (a marriage) with proper ceremonies and in due form; also, to perform the ceremony of (marriage).
1426. Lydg., in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 136. And there in Troys also was solempnesed The mariage, to conferme up the peas.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 2 § 11. So that thoes espousels be solempnysed in Churche, Chapell, or Oratory.
1533–4. Act 25 Hen. VIII., c. 12. The mariage, whiche was solempnised betwene his maiestie and … the lady Catherine.
1588. Greene, Perimedes, Wks. (Grosart), VII. 84. Bradamant … with great pompe solempnised the Nuptials.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 66. They buy their wiues of their parents, and record the contract before the Cadi, which they after solemnize in this manner.
1657. in Verney Mem. (1904), II. 120. The mariage of the Protector’s daughter to Warwick’s sonne, is forthwith to bee solempnized.
1713. Guardian, No. 7, ¶ 3. The immature marriages solemnized in our days.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, II. ii. 57. He found a priest, who would solemnize their nuptials.
1847. Emerson, Poems, Musketaquid, Wks. (Bohn), I. 484. And wide around, the marriage of the plants Is sweetly solemnized.
1886. Act 49 Vict., c. 14 § 1. No person shall be subject to any proceedings in any court … for solemnizing matrimony between the aforesaid hours.
b. To wed ceremonially. nonce-use.
1592. Breton, Pilgr. Parad., Wks. (Grosart), I. 20/2. Where sacred mercy first did solempnize The spirite to the fleshe in mariage.
c. absol. To marry.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), IV. 168. Let the articles be drawn up, and engrossed; and solemnize upon them.
1804. Eugenia de Acton, Tale without Title, I. 112. I am unalterably resolved never to marry any other woman: and … should I solemnize upon her recovery [etc.].
3. To hold, observe, perform, † proclaim, etc., with some amount of ceremony or formality.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 233/2. Wherfore themperour establisshed … that the counseyl shold be solempnysed at mylane.
1487–8. in Prymer (E.E.T.S.), 170. The Banys where solempnishyd & published betwixt Annes Skerne … and Peres Courteys.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, 121. The Minister hauyng alwayes some to communicate with him, may accordingly solempnise so high and holy misteries, with al … due ordre.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., Prose Addit. 341. There … did [Æneas] solemnize an Anniuersarie at the Tombe of his father.
1603. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 72. Tomorrow being Thursday, wee doe solemnise the funerails at Westminster of her late Majesty of most happy memory.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., v. Wks. 1851, III. 117. To solemnize some religious monthly meeting different from the Sabbath.
1703. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., VII. 149. The Anniversary Service for Henri 4 was Solemnized this Morn.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxiii. The scene of solemnizing some high national festival.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, x. I. 427. The Megarian peasantry were compelled to solemnize the obsequies of every Bacchiad.
1897. ‘Olive P. Rayner’ (Grant Allen), Type-writer Girl, xvii. 189. Dinner solemnised, we withdrew to the comfortable divans of the balcony.
† 4. To celebrate with praise or commendation; to laud or glorify. Obs.
1514. Barclay, Ecloges, iv. (1570), C v b/2. And to what vices that princes moste intende, Those dare these fooles solemnize and commende.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CVIII. i. My hart is bent … God’s name to solemnize.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., II. i. § 7 (1622), 184. Vnto the Sunne, whose glorious regiment All dayes solemnize.
1652. Loveday, trans. Calprenède’s Cleopatra, I. 49. The bravery of the Course was solemnized with a generall Shout.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2266/1. We cannot be satisfied … that what Your Majesty hath now done for them, should be more Solemnized, than what You have always done for us.
5. To make solemn; to render serious or grave.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XVII. 245. Holy horrors solemnize the shade.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 140. Such an inward awe and veneration … as, for a while, sunk his spirits, and solemnized his features.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), II. 561. He solemnizes his tone … and beholds in the air a host of difficulties.
1845. Martineau, Misc. (1852), 114. A religious ceremonial invested with every beauty that may touch and solemnize their hearts.
1871. Mozley, Univ. Serm., vi. (1876), 148. That remarkable desire … seems to be innate in all,… the desire to be solemnised. People like being awed.
absol. 1865. Mozley, Miracles, vii. 133. A supernatural fact … is a potent influence; it rouses, it solemnizes.
6. intr. To speak or meditate solemnly.
1836. Fraser’s Mag., XIV. 733. [He] had sermonised and solemnised in sepulchral vaults and feudal towers.
Hence Solemnized ppl. a.
1642. G. Sandys, Paraphr. Song Solomon, III. iii. 13. At that solemniz’d Nuptiall Feast.
