n. [ L. celebrans, p. pr. of celebrare. See Celebrate. ] One who performs a public religious rite; -- applied particularly to an officiating priest in the Roman Catholic Church, as distinguished from his assistants. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Celebrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Celebrating. ] [ L. celebratus, p. p. of celebrare to frequent, to celebrate, fr. celeber famous. ] 1. To extol or honor in a solemn manner; as, to celebrate the name of the Most High. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To honor by solemn rites, by ceremonies of joy and respect, or by refraining from ordinary business; to observe duly; to keep; as, to celebrate a birthday. [ 1913 Webster ]

From even unto even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath. Lev. xxiii. 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To perform or participate in, as a sacrament or solemn rite; to solemnize; to perform with appropriate rites; as, to celebrate a marriage.

Syn. -- To commemorate; distinguish; honor. -- To Celebrate, Commemorate. We commemorate events which we desire to keep in remembrance, when we recall them by some special observace; as, to commemorate the death of our Savior. We celebrate by demonstrations of joy or solemnity or by appropriate ceremonies; as, to celebrate the birthday of our Independence. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are called upon to commemorate a revolution as surprising in its manner as happy in its consequences. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

Earth, water, air, and fire, with feeling glee,
Exult to celebrate thy festival. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having celebrity; distinguished; renowned. [ 1913 Webster ]

Celebrated for the politeness of his manners. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Distinguished; famous; noted; famed; renowned; illustrious. See Distinguished. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. celebratio. ] The act, process, or time of celebrating. [ 1913 Webster ]

His memory deserving a particular celebration. Clarendok. [ 1913 Webster ]

Celebration of Mass is equivalent to offering Mass Cath. Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

To hasten the celebration of their marriage. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who celebrates; a praiser. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Famous. [ Obs. ] Speed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Celebrities [ L. celebritas: cf. F. célébrité. ] 1. Celebration; solemnization. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The celebrity of the marriage. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state or condition of being celebrated; fame; renown; as, the celebrity of Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

An event of great celebrity in the history of astronomy. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A person of distinction or renown; -- usually in the plural; as, he is one of the celebrities of the place. [ 1913 Webster ]