Cortege

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kɔɹˈtɛʒ/

Definitions

1. A procession of people, typically including mourners or attendants, moving ceremonially in a formal line
2. a formal procession of attendants or mourners moving in ceremonial order, often accompanying a notable person or coffin
3. an organized parade of people arranged in solemn formation, typically attending a funeral or honoring a dignitary

Etymology: The English "cortege" was borrowed from French "cortège," which in turn was taken from Italian "corteggio," meaning a retinue or train of attendants. The Italian word traces back to "corte," meaning a court, the household of a ruler, so the core idea is a group of people gathered around a court or noble figure and moving in its wake. That sense of accompanying someone important is the thread that runs through every stage of the word's journey. The Italian and French forms kept the notion of a following, a train of attendants moving behind a person of rank. English adopted the word with the same sense, and it has stayed closely tied to ceremony. Today it is most often used for a funeral procession, but the core meaning is still a formal retinue moving in order behind someone or something of importance.

Synonyms: procession, escort, parade, train, march