Ceremoniousness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being marked by strict adherence to formalities and rituals, exhibiting a sense of grandeur and respect during special occasions
2. The attribute characterized by an adherence to elaborate formalities and rituals that reflects an attitude of dignity and respect during significant events
3. The state of showing overly formal or stiff manners especially in social or official events

Etymology: "Ceremoniousness" is a straightforward compound: the adjective "ceremonious" with the suffix "-ness" added to turn a quality into a noun. The adjective itself comes from "ceremony," which English borrowed from Latin "caerimonia," a word for sacred observance, reverence and ritual. From there "ceremonious" came to describe anyone who adheres closely to formal rules of conduct and ritual, and by extension an occasion or manner marked by punctilious display. The suffix does the grammatical work. "-ness" is a native English ending, descended from Old English "-nes(s)," and it attaches freely to adjectives to name the state or quality they describe. Its ancestry runs back through Germanic forms to Proto-Indo-European, but in practice English speakers have used it since Old English times to form abstract nouns from almost any adjective, so "ceremoniousness" is simply the name of the quality of being ceremonious.

Synonyms: formality, ritual, solemnity

Antonyms: informality, casualness