Laureation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌlɔːɹiˈeɪʃən/

Definitions

1. The ceremony or act of conferring honor and recognition often characterized by the awarding of a wreath or laurel crown to an individual
2. A formal occasion in which a person is celebrated and awarded a laurel, symbolizing achievement and distinction
3. The process of bestowing a laurel wreath as a symbol of honor and accomplishment

Etymology: The crown at the heart of this word is far older than the word itself. Ancient Greek and Roman victors at games and poetry contests were crowned with laurel, a practice that gave the Latin "laureare" its sense of crowning someone with laurel, and from that verb came the idea of honoring a person by bestowing such a crown. English "laureation" is a noun built on that root, formed with the common "-ation" suffix that turns a verb into the name of an action or ceremony, so it names the act of laureating someone. The word's closest relative in another language is French "lauréation," which the English term shares in form and meaning. Laurel itself was prized because it was evergreen, which made it a natural emblem of lasting achievement, and the same symbolism lives on in the English word "laureate," used for poets and others honored for distinguished work.