/celebrate/definition

celebrate

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: sɛlɪbreɪt. 

-) Etymology: from Latin celebratus, participle of celebrare (= to frequent, celebrate), from celeber (= much frequented, famous).

-) Transitively: 1. (Documented since 1500) to perform (a religious ceremony, a marriage, etc.) by means of a celebration; this is, to perform solemnly with the appropriate rite; to solemnize. 

[… ] to have your nuptials celebrated.

Samuel Richardson… Clarissa 1748

The widow then, partially keeping her promise, actually celebrated her nuptials on the appointed evening.

John Motley… United Netherlands 1869

[… ] he was proclaimed king on the death of Philip [… ] and celebrated his funeral with great magnificence

John Lord… Ancient States and Empires 1869

-) 2. Obsolete: to execute (a contract).

-) 3. a. To solemnize with formality; to observe with solemn rites; to commemorate (an anniversary, festival, etc.) by one or more ceremonies or rites, or by abstaining from ordinary business. b. To render (an event, occasion) deserving of commemoration, by a merrymaking or by a happy demonstration.

-) Translation: célébrer, in French; celebrar, in Spanish; celebrare, in Italian.

[…] soldiers of the conqueror, who celebrated his victories by a splendid festival.

John Lord… Ancient States and Empires 1869

Earth Day, April 22, 1990, was celebrated by hundreds of thousands of people gathered in New York’s Central Park to express their support for environmental programs.

Leland Gregory… Stupid History 2009

Constantine travelled to Scone for a ceremony to celebrate his accession.

Neil Oliver… A history of Scotland 2009

Alexander held a huge banquet to celebrate the reconciliation, and his triumph.

Romm… Ghost on the throne 2011

-) Also absolute (documented since 1900):

She was a nurse in a private clinic out near Yate. She’d done an early shift and was supposed to be meeting her friend at seven for a drink – they were going to celebrate because her boyfriend was coming off the rigs in Aberdeen after three weeks apart. She never showed for the drink.

Mo Hayder… Skin

-) 4. a. To make publicly known or much talked about; to render celebrated. b. To render (something) deserving of fame or celebrity by praising it publicly.

This natural group has been long celebrated for their docility, and easy instruction, whether in music, or in performing a variety of tricks.

Alexander Wilson… American ornithology 1808

[The] beauty of her eyes, so celebrated by all the contemporary poets.

Anna Jameson… Visits and Sketches 1834

[Sea Perch fish] was celebrated as well for the excellency of its flavour, as for the stratagems it used when encircled by nets, or fastened by the hook.

Jardine… The Natural History of Fishes 1835

Differences are to be celebrated rather than denigrated.

Anton Treuer… Living Our Language 2010

-) Celebrated (adjective): having celebrity; famous; famed; renowned.

The secretion itself was reddish brown, with the consistency of honey, and a penetrating odor celebrated as a sexual lure.

Laurence Bergreen… Marco Polo 2007

-) Words derived from the verb CELEBRATE: celebration, celebrity, celebrating, celebrational, celebrative, celebrator, celebratory, uncelebrated.