a. [ OE. solempne, OF. solempne, L. solemnis, solennis, sollemnis, sollennis; sollus all, entire + annus a year; properly, that takes place every year; -- used especially of religious solemnities. Cf. Silly, Annual. ] 1. Marked with religious rites and pomps; enjoined by, or connected with, religion; sacred. [ 1913 Webster ]

His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The worship of this image was advanced, and a solemn supplication observed everry year. Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to a festival; festive; festal. [ Obs. ] “On this solemn day.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Stately; ceremonious; grand. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His feast so solemn and so rich. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

To-night we hold a splemn supper. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fitted to awaken or express serious reflections; marked by seriousness; serious; grave; devout; as, a solemn promise; solemn earnestness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage
With solemn touches troubled thoughts. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

There reigned a solemn silence over all. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Real; earnest; downright. [ Obs. & R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Frederick, the emperor, . . . has spared no expense in strengthening this city; since which time we find no solemn taking it by the Turks. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Affectedly grave or serious; as, to put on a solemn face. “A solemn coxcomb.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Law) Made in form; ceremonious; as, solemn war; conforming with all legal requirements; as, probate in solemn form. Burrill. Jarman. Greenleaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Grave; formal; ritual; ceremonial; sober; serious; reverential; devotional; devout. See Grave. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Solemnness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some think he wanted solemnes. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Solemnities [ L. solemnitas, solennitas: cf. F. solennité, solemnité, OF. also sollempnité. ] 1. A rite or ceremony performed with religious reverence; religious or ritual ceremony; as, the solemnity of a funeral, a sacrament. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great was the cause; our old solemnities
From no blind zeal or fond tradition rise,
But saved from death, our Argives yearly pay
These grateful honors to the god of day. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. ceremony adapted to impress with awe. [ 1913 Webster ]

The forms and solemnities of the last judgment. Atterburry. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Ceremoniousness; impressiveness; seriousness; grave earnestness; formal dignity; gravity. [ 1913 Webster ]

With much glory and great solemnity. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The statelines and gravity of the Spaniards shows itself in the solemnity of their language. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

These promises were often made with great solemnity and confirmed with an oath. J. Edwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence, affected gravity or seriousness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Solemnity 's a cover for a sot. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Solemn state or feeling; awe or reverence; also, that which produces such a feeling; as, the solemnity of an audience; the solemnity of Westminster Abbey. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To solemnize; as, to solemnizate matrimony. [ R. ] Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. solemnisation, solennisation. ] The act of solemnizing; celebration; as, the solemnization of a marriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Solemnization. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Solemnized p. pr. & vb. n. Solemnizing ] [ Cf. F. solemniser, sollemniser. ] 1. To perform with solemn or ritual ceremonies, or according to legal forms. [ 1913 Webster ]

Baptism to be administered in one place, and marriage solemnized in another. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dignify or honor by ceremonies; to celebrate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their choice nobility and flowers . . .
Met from all parts to solemnize this feast. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make grave, serious, and reverential. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wordsworth was solemnizzed and elevated by this his first look on Yarrow. J. C. Shairp. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every Israelite . . . arose, solemnized his face, looked towards Jerusalem . . . and prayed. L. Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who solemnizes. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a solemn manner; with gravity; seriously; formally. [ 1913 Webster ]

There in deaf murmurs solemnly are wise. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

I do solemnly assure the reader. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being solemn; solemnity; impressiveness; gravity; as, the solemnness of public worship. [ Written also solemness. ] [ 1913 Webster ]