adj.
Pronunciation: ' sä-l ə m
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English solempne, from Anglo-French, from Latin sollemnis regularly appointed, solemn
Date: 14th century
1 : marked by the invocation of a religious sanction <a solemn oath>
2 : marked by the observance of established form or ceremony specifically : celebrated with full liturgical ceremony
3 a : awe-inspiring : SUBLIME < solemn beauty> b : marked by grave sedateness and earnest sobriety <a solemn gathering> c : SOMBER , GLOOMY <a solemn gray building>
synonyms see SERIOUS
– sol · emn · ly adverb
– sol · emn · ness noun