solemn
pronunciation
How to pronounce solemn in British English:
UK [ˈsɒləm]
How to pronounce solemn in American English:
US [ˈsɑːləm]
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- Adjective:
- dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
- characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
Word Origin
- solemn
- solemn: [14] Solemn comes via Old French solemne from Latin sollemnis ‘customary’, hence ‘performed with due ceremony on a particular fixed day’. This was derived from sollus ‘whole’ (source also of English solicit).=> solicit
- solemn (adj.)
- mid-14c., "performed with due religious ceremony or reverence, sacred, devoted to religious observances," also, of a vow, etc., "made under religious sanction, binding," from Old French solempne (12c., Modern French solennel) and directly from Latin sollemnis "annual, established, religiously fixed, formal, ceremonial, traditional," perhaps related to sollus "whole" (see safe (adj.)). "The explanation that Latin sollemnis was formed from sollus whole + annus year is not considered valid" [Barnhart], but some assimilation via folk-etymology is possible. In Middle English also "famous, important; imposing, grand," hence Chaucer's friar, a ful solempne man. Meaning "marked by seriousness or earnestness" is from late 14c.; sense of "fitted to inspire devout reflection" is from c. 1400. Related: Solemnly.
Antonym
Example
- 1. But she 'd taken a solemn vow of hospitality .
- 2. Funerals are not always solemn affairs .
- 3. Actually , much of it is solemn and melancholy .
- 4. Last week I took a solemn vow that I would never say anything about a third party unless I was locked in a soundproof cell .
- 5. In this respect his campaign has skilfully balanced the solemn and the familiar .