solemn — formal and dignified; serious and somber in manner or appearance
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: formal and dignified; serious and somber in manner or appearance
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsɑːləm/
Example Sentences
- The cat made a solemn vow to never knock things off the table again... which lasted exactly 5 minutes.
- The graduation ceremony was a solemn and meaningful event for all the families.
- His solemn face during the meeting made everyone think he was about to deliver bad news, but he was just concentrating on not falling asleep.
solemn
ADJECTIVE[/ˈsɑːləm/]
formal and dignified; serious and somber in manner or appearance
The crowd observed a solemn moment of silence for the fallen heroes.
The priest delivered a solemn prayer before the ceremony began. (🙏 Respect + 🤫 Silence → Solemn)
The solemn speech echoed between the columns despite the low volume.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'sollemnis' meaning formal, ceremonial, or customary. The word likely derives from 'sollus' (whole, entire) combined with 'annus' (year), originally referring to annual religious ceremonies performed in their entirety.
Breakdown
Latin 'sol-' (whole) + '-lemnis' (from annus, year, referring to annual ceremonial observance) = solemn (formal and dignified in manner)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The cat made a solemn vow to never knock things off the table again... which lasted exactly 5 minutes.”
“The graduation ceremony was a solemn and meaningful event for all the families.”
“His solemn face during the meeting made everyone think he was about to deliver bad news, but he was just concentrating on not falling asleep.”
“The memorial service was conducted in a solemn atmosphere.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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