I. ˈprəˈseshən, prōˈs- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English processioun, from Old French procession, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin procession-, processio religious procession, from Latin, act of proceeding, from processus (past participle of procedere to proceed) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at proceed
1. : the action of proceeding:
a. : the action of moving along on a particular course especially in a continuous orderly regulated often formal or ceremonial way : continuous forward movement : progression
watched the constant procession of people passing by the building
it happened during the procession
the uninterrupted procession of the clergy down the aisle
b. : the action of issuing forth ; specifically : the action of the Holy Spirit in issuing forth from another of the persons of the Trinity — see double procession , single procession
2.
a.
(1) : a group of individuals (as people, animals, vehicles) moving along or about to move along on a particular course especially in a continuous orderly regulated often formal or ceremonial way and usually arranged in a long line
formed a procession
the procession moved slowly
a funeral procession
(2) : the formation proper to or typical of such a group
walked along in procession
go in procession round the fields — J.G.Frazer
b. : a succession, sequence, or series of things arranged or occurring in a formation or alignment like that of such a group
a procession of stately trees on each side of the avenue
an endless procession of fields broken now and then by a strip of woodland — Sherwood Anderson
3. obsolete : something (as a hymn, prayer) sung or recited during a religious procession
II. prəˈseshən, prōˈs- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
archaic : to move along or about in or as if in a procession
transitive verb
Midland : to move in procession around (land, boundaries) in formally determining the limits of