Celebratory

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛləbɹəˌtɔːɹi/

Definitions

1. Distinctive of a mood of joy and festivity celebrating achievements or special occasions
2. Marked by a spirit of joy and festivity, it refers to actions and feelings that commemorate significant events or accomplishments in a joyful manner
3. Showing or expressing happiness and festivity in recognition of a special occasion

Etymology: Celebratory is a plain formation: the verb "celebrate" with the suffix "-ory" added, so the word simply means "of or relating to celebrating," or, in its current sense, full of festivity. The verb itself comes from Latin "celebrare," meaning to frequent, honour or perform a rite, and the "-ory" ending traces back through Anglo-Norman and Old French to Latin "-torius," a suffix that forms adjectives indicating purpose or function. The suffix is the older element here. English had "-ory" adjectives for centuries before "celebratory" appeared, and words such as "laudatory" and "promissory" follow the same pattern. Because the suffix attaches to a verb stem, "celebratory" carries the meaning of the action it names, so a celebratory speech is one that does the work of celebrating.

Synonyms: festive, joyous, cheerful, merry, triumphant

Antonyms: mournful, sorrowful, sad, dejected, disheartened