different between celebrate vs merrymake

English

Etymology

From Middle English celebraten, from Latin celebratus, past pariticiple of celebr? (“frequent, go to in great numbers, celebrate, honor, praise”), from celeber (“frequented, populous”). Displaced native Old English fæ?nian.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?l.?.b?e?t/, /?s?l.?.b?e?t/

Verb

celebrate (third-person singular simple present celebrates, present participle celebrating, simple past and past participle celebrated)

1. (transitive) To extol or honour in a solemn manner.

   Synonym: fete
2. (transitive) To honour by rites, by ceremonies of joy and respect, or by refraining from ordinary business; to observe duly.

   Synonyms: observe, keep
3. (intransitive) To engage in joyful activity in appreciation of an event.
4. (transitive) To perform or participate in, as a sacrament or solemn rite; to perform with appropriate rites.

   Synonym: solemnize

Usage notes

In sense “to conduct ceremonies, to follow a custom”, generally used of festive occasions, such as Christmas and birthdays. For more solemn occasions, particularly certain religious holidays (“holy days”) and commemorations, the term observe is used instead, as in “This office will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.”

Related terms

• celebrant
• celebrated
• celebration
• celebrative
• celebrator
• celebratory
• celebrity

Translations

Further reading

• celebrate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• celebrate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• celebrate at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• erectable

Esperanto

Adverb

celebrate

1. present adverbial passive participle of celebri

Italian

Verb

celebrate

1. inflection of celebrare:
   1. second-person plural indicative present
   2. second-person plural imperative

Anagrams

• cablerete

Latin

Verb

celebr?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of celebr?

English

Etymology

From make merry.

Verb

merrymake (third-person singular simple present merrymakes, present participle merrymaking, simple past and past participle merrymade)

1. (archaic, literary) To make merry, have fun, celebrate.

Noun

merrymake (plural merrymakes)

1. (archaic, literary) Merry-making, celebration, festivity.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.vi:

     when he saw her toy, and gibe, and geare, / And passe the bonds of modest merimake, / Her dalliance he despisd, and follies did forsake.

Anagrams

• make merry