I. |serə|mōnēəl, -nyəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English cerimonial, from Middle French, from Late Latin caerimonialis, from Latin caerimonia ceremony + -alis -al
1. : marked by, involved in, or belonging to a ceremony : marked by careful, full, and often elaborate attention to form and detail : ritual
grave ceremonial occasions, like birth and death and the assumption of manhood — John Buchan
the highly colored ceremonial life of the Greek court — H.O.Taylor
ceremonial paraphernalia
2. obsolete : observant of forms : ceremonious
Synonyms:
ceremonious , formal , conventional , solemn : ceremonial may suggest an elaborate, prescribed, ritualistic code of procedure
he had been among the Indians so much that he had acquired some notion of their ceremonial ideas of politeness, which demand a decent interval of light conversation before any important announcement is made — C.B.Nordhoff & J.N.Hall
ceremonious also suggests elaborate procedures, perhaps punctilious and dignified
the gay throngs of the people moved … outside the huge many-moated castle of the Shogun … but had no lot in the ceremonious existence within them — Laurence Binyon
ceremonious is more likely than ceremonial to refer to people
the Zuñi are a ceremonious people … their interest is centered upon their rich and complex ceremonial life — Ruth Benedict
formal indicates accordance with a set procedure and may suggest stiffness, restraint, or old-fashioned custom
his air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal — Jane Austen
“I kiss your hand, Miss”, said Mr. Lorry, with the manners of an earlier date, as he made his formal bow again — Charles Dickens
conventional indicates accord with general custom or usage
when she herself had been seriously sick or in danger they uttered a conventional word of sympathy at the news, and forgot all about it immediately — Thomas Hardy
your conventional morality is stronger than you. You are the slave to the opinions which have credence among the people you have known and have read about — Jack London
conventional may suggest stodgy lack of originality
I discovered … that the right people were often the most tiresome and the most conventional — A.C.Benson
solemn , in this sense now applicable mostly to religious, legalistic, or state procedures, stresses attention to all forms and details
a solemn rite
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cerimonial, from cerimonial, adjective
1. : a system of formal rules and ceremonies enjoined by law, protocol, or custom for observance in religious worship, social affairs, or courtly procedure
2. : a ceremonial usage or formality : a standardized rite, ceremony, or ritual
the magic and religious ceremonials of primitive cultures
Synonyms: see form