different between solemnity vs exaltation

English

Etymology

solemn +? -ity, from Middle English solemnity (“observance of formality and ceremony”), frequently in the phrases in solemnity, with solemnity, which from Old French solemnite, from Latin sollemnit?s, from sollemnis. (Compare solemn.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??l?mn?ti/
• Hyphenation: so?lem?ni?ty

Noun

solemnity (countable and uncountable, plural solemnities)

1. The quality of being deeply serious and sober or solemn.

   the solemnity of a funeral

   • The stateliness and gravity of the Spaniards shows itself in the solemnity of their language.

   • 1754, Jonathan Edwards, An Inquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions Respecting that Freedom of the Will which is supposed to be Essential to Moral Agency

     These promises were often made with great solemnity and confirmed with an oath.

2. An instance or example of solemn behavior; a rite or ceremony performed with reverence.
   • April 17, 1707, Francis Atterbury, a sermon

     The forms and solemnities of the last judgment.

3. (Catholicism) A feast day of the highest rank celebrating a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or another important saint.
4. (law) A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid.
5. (obsolete) A celebration or festivity.

Translations

References

Anagrams

• mylonites

English

Etymology

From French exaltation, from Latin exalt?ti? (“exaltation, elevation”), from exalt? (“raise, elevate, exalt”), from ex (“from, out of”) + altus (“high”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???.?z?l.?te?.??n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

exaltation (countable and uncountable, plural exaltations)

1. The act of exalting or raising high; also, the state of being exalted; elevation.
2. The refinement or subtilization of a body, or the increasing of its virtue or principal property.
3. (astrology) That placement of a planet in the zodiac in which it is deemed to exert its strongest influence.
   • 1978, Lawrence Durrell, Livia, Faber & Faber 1992 (Avignon Quintet), p. 483:

     He often stood there in a muse until dusk fell, and then darkness, while once in a while the moon, ‘in her exaltation’ as the astrologers say, rose to remind him that such worldly musings meant nothing to the hostile universe without.

4. (rare) The collective noun for larks.
   • 1989, Ronald K. Siegel, Intoxication: The Universal Drive for Mind-Altering Substances, Park Street Press (2009), ?ISBN, page 192:

     In a sense, the editorial cartoons were correct when they suggested that an exaltation of larks can fly under the influence into an aspect of vulturous behavior.

   • 2005, Lucille Bellucci, Journey from Shanghai, iUniverse (2005), ?ISBN, page 83:

     “I'd like to think of my father being lifted to God in an exaltation of larks.”

   • 2005, Linda Bird Francke, On the Road with Francis of Assisi: A Timeless Journey Through Umbria and Tuscany, and Beyond, Random House (2006), ?ISBN, page 232:

     It is said that an exaltation of larks, which had assembled on the roof of Francis's hut, suddenly—and inexplicably—took to the air just after sunset, wheeling and singing.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:exaltation.
5. (medicine, archaic) An abnormal sense of personal well-being, power, or importance, observed as a symptom in various forms of insanity.

Translations

French

Etymology

From Latin exalt?ti?.

Pronunciation

Noun

exaltation f (plural exaltations)

1. exaltation

Related terms

• exalter

Further reading

• “exaltation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).