Cĕr'e-mo-ny, n.

(50), n. [Fr. cérémonie, Pr. ceremonia, cerimonia, Sp., Pg., & It. ceremonia, from Lat. cærimonia, from Cære, an old city of Etruria, which stood in a very ancient religious connection with Rome; according to others, from Ceres, equivalent to Cereris sacra.]

1Sense 1. Outward rite; external form in religion. “Sacred ceremonies.” Spenser.

2Sense 2. Forms prescribed or established by order or custom, serving for the purpose of regulating social intercourse in public or private; forms of civility or propriety.

All ceremonies are, in themselves, very silly things; but yet a man of the world should know them. Ld. Chesterfield.

3Sense 3. Regal pomp or state; ceremonial ornament; decoration. [Obs.]

Disrobe the images, If you do find them decked with ceremonies. Shak.

Master of ceremonies, an officer who superintends the forms to be observed by the company, or attendants, on a public occasion.