SOLEMNITY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does solemnity mean? 

• SOLEMNITY (noun)
  The noun SOLEMNITY has 2 senses:

1. a trait of dignified seriousness

2. a solemn and dignified feeling

  Familiarity information: SOLEMNITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SOLEMNITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A trait of dignified seriousness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

sedateness; solemness; solemnity; staidness

Hypernyms ("solemnity" is a kind of...):

earnestness; serious-mindedness; seriousness; sincerity (the trait of being serious)

Derivation:

solemn (characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions)

solemn (dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A solemn and dignified feeling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

gravity; solemnity

Hypernyms ("solemnity" is a kind of...):

feeling (the experiencing of affective and emotional states)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "solemnity"):

earnestness; seriousness; sincerity (an earnest and sincere feeling)

Derivation:

solemn (characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions)

solemn (dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises)

 Context examples 

He, for his part, took a great draught of the wine and spoke with the most unusual solemnity.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

For his solemnity of the night before had greatly impressed me.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Dr. Grant is ill,” said she, with mock solemnity.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

He took another look at himself in the glass, and said aloud, with great solemnity:-

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Mycroft Holmes spoke with a solemnity which showed his sense of the importance of the subject.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The promised letter of thanks from Mr. Collins arrived on Tuesday, addressed to their father, and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a twelvemonth's abode in the family might have prompted.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

"You keep a diary of these events, and you expect eventually to publish it, Mr. Malone," said he, with solemnity.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The first act of business Miss Murdstone performed when the day of the solemnity was over, and light was freely admitted into the house, was to give Peggotty a month's warning.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

To me, death had always been invested with solemnity and dignity.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The reader suddenly sat up, cast away the paper, displaying a flushed countenance, and with a funny mixture of solemnity and excitement replied in a loud voice, "Your sister."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)