commemoration
(kəˌmɛməˈreɪʃən)
[a. F. commémoration, or ad. L. commemorātiōn-em, n. of action f. commemorāre (see prec.).]
1. † a. The action of calling to the remembrance of a hearer or reader; recital, mention (obs.). b. Eulogistic or honourable mention.
| 1576 Fleming Panoplie Ep. 48 He maketh a commemoration of such feates as he had done. 1631 Heywood Lond. Jus Honor. Wks. 1874 IV. 280 Vlisses..vseth this short Commemoration, of all that hath been included in the former pageants. 1823 Byron Juan vii. xvi, Yet there were several [names] worth commemoration. |
2. A calling to remembrance, or preserving in memory, by some solemn observance, public celebration, etc.; ‘solemnization of the memory of anything’ (J.).
| 1382 Wyclif Luke xxii. 19 Do ȝe this thing in to my commemoracioun. 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 235 For to haue a lytel commemoracion of god tofore or the soule shold departe fro his body. 1549 Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, To celebrate the commemoration of the most glorious death of thy Son. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 91 All the solemn days kept in commemoration and gratitude for our Saviours Nativity, Passion, etc. 1779 Gentl. Mag. XLIX. 97 The commemoration of the Martyrdom of King Charles Ist. |
b. Eccl. A service, or a short form of prayer added to a service, in memory of a saint or of a sacred event; spec. the observance of a lesser feast by inserting parts of the service appropriate to it in that of a greater feast, when the two fall on the same day; the mention by name of persons living or departed in the prayers of the Eucharistic service.
Formerly specifically applied to the festivals of St. Paul, and All Saints.
| a 1400 Table of Lessons, etc. in Wyclif Bible IV. 697 Here..bigynneth the Comemoracioun of the Trinite..The Commemoracioun of oure Ladi in Aduent. Ibid. IV. 692 Commemoracioun of Seynt Poul. a 1699 Stillingfl. (J.), St. Austin believed that the martyrs, when the commemorations were made at their own sepulchres, did join their prayers with the churches, in behalf of those who there put up their supplications to God. 1844 Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858) II. App. 332 The several commemorations and antiphons with which the Service frequently closed. Ibid. II. App. 378 The next day was therefore chosen for the Commemoration of Beda. 1872 W. E. Scudamore Notitia Euchar. 380 S. Cyril of Jerusalem mentions the commemoration of the departed as taking place after the Consecration. 1883 Cath. Dict. s.v., The common commemorations consist of antiphons, versicles and prayers relating to the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, St. Peter and St. Paul, the Patron or title of the church, and peace..They are preceded on ferias by a commemoration of the Cross. |
c. At Oxford, an annual celebration, held in the Act or Trinity Term, in memory of the Founders and Benefactors of the University, in whose honour a Latin Oration is delivered. The name is now used to include all the associated proceedings of the Encænia. (Cf. commemorate v. 1, 1714.)
| [1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 191 In our two Universities, it is usual for Colleges to observe a Commemoration of their Founders and other famous Men, by whose Beneficence the College has been endow'd.] 1750 Gentl. Mag. 328 Monday, July 2 Was celebrated at Oxford the solemnity of commemorating all the benefactors of the University according to the institution of Nathaniel Lord Crewe, Bp. of Durham..The whole was conducted with great decorum. 1759 Ibid. 342 Wednesday 4 [July] Being the day of Lord Crewe's commemoration, the procession was again repeated to the theatre; the encænia, or congratulatory exercises, were continued. Friday 6 The encænia were resumed in the Theatre. Saturday 7 The solemnity of the installment, and commemoration, was closed by Dr. King. 1761 Ibid. 329 (Thursday July 2) The commemoration began at Oxford, and the public orations were spoken by Mess. Warton and Shebheare. a 1884 M. Pattison Mem. 106 Commemoration was very late in 1832. 1886 Oxford Univ. Calendar 43 Portions of the successful Compositions..are read each year at the Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors. |
d. A public memorial.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. v. (1682) 201, I saw a pillar of Brass erected there for a commemoration of that unnatural murther of Cain. 1886 Morley Geo. Eliot Crit. Misc. III. 94 If George Eliot had insisted that her works should remain the only commemoration of her life. |
3. Comb., as commemoration-day, commemoration-week, commemoration-ball, commemoration-flower-show, etc. (sense 2 c).
| 1779 Gentl. Mag. XLIX. 372 The commemoration speech was spoken by the Rev. Mr. Randolph. Ibid. 643, I transcribe for you from Mr. Doughty's Commemoration Sermon. 1784 Cowper Task vi. 635 Ten thousand sit Patiently present at a sacred song, Commemoration-mad; content to hear Messiah's eulogy, for Handel's sake. a 1884 M. Pattison Mem. 106 At that time [1832] you could not keep your term if you left before noon on commemoration day. |
Hence commemoˈrational a., of or relating to commemoration; commemoˈrationism, the principle and practice of holding commemoration; commemoˈrationist.
| 1880 J. Hawthorne Ellice Quentin I. 92 Poems..philosophical commemorational, imaginative. 1864 Masson in Reader 16 Jan. 67 We confess to a sympathy with Anti-Commemorationism in general. Ibid., The Commemorationists..think that it is a right and proper thing to have occasional public celebrations of important anniversaries. |