Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Serious and dignified: synonym: serious.
  • adjective Showing or behaving with dignified restraint or earnestness.
  • adjective Performed with full ceremony.
  • adjective Made with deep sincerity or invoking the force of religion.
  • adjective Dark or undecorated.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Recurring yearly; annual.
  • Marked by religious rites or ceremonious observances; connected with religion; sacred; also, marked by special ritual or ceremony.
  • Pertaining to holiday; festive; joyous.
  • Of high repute; important; dignified.
  • Fitted to excite or express serious or devout reflections; grave; impressive; awe-inspiring: as, a solemn pile of buildings.
  • Marked by seriousness or earnestness in language or demeanor; impressive; grave: as, to make a solemn promise; a solemn utterance.
  • Affectedly grave, serious, or important: as, to put on a solemn face.
  • Accompanied with all due forms or ceremonies; made in form; formal; regular: now chiefly a law term: as, probate in solemn form.
  • Sober; gloomy; dark: noting color or tint.
  • Synonyms August, venerable, grand, stately.
  • Serious, etc. (see grave), reverential, sober.
  • To solemnize.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Marked with religious rites and pomps; enjoined by, or connected with, religion; sacred.
  • adjective obsolete Pertaining to a festival; festive; festal.
  • adjective Archaic Stately; ceremonious; grand.
  • adjective Fitted to awaken or express serious reflections; marked by seriousness; serious; grave; devout.
  • adjective Obs. & R. Real; earnest; downright.
  • adjective Affectedly grave or serious.
  • adjective (Law) Made in form; ceremonious; ; conforming with all legal requirements.
  • adjective See Covenant, 2.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Deeply serious and somber.
  • adjective Somberly impressive.
  • adjective Performed with great ceremony.
  • adjective Sacred.
  • adjective Gloomy or sombre.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
  • adjective dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English solemne, from Old French, from Latin sollemnis, established, customary; see sol- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English solemne, from Old French solempne, from Late Latin sōlennis and sōlempnis, from Latin sōlemnis, from sollemnis ("ritual; festive, solemn, customary, celebrated at a fixed date"), from sollus ("entire").

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Examples

  • But he gave what he called a solemn pledge: "We will hold ourselves responsible to do what it takes, as long as it takes, to stop this catastrophe, to repair the damage and to keep this region on its feet."

    Effort to Plug Well Hangs in Balance 2010

  • His expression solemn, he pulled the strip of plaid from behind his shoulder and draped the end over their joined hands.

    Ransom Julie Garwood 1999

  • This opening round of hospitality completed, he seemed at a loss, his expression solemn.

    Remember Me, Irene Jan Burke 1996

  • Bradford nodded, trying his damnedest to keep his expression solemn.

    Rebellious Desire Julie Garwood 1986

  • "That's what I call a solemn promise," exclaimed Tom, as Nanny concluded the prescribed speech.

    Harper's Young People, February 10, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly Various

  • She even laid aside her usual quiet undemonstrativeness, and petted and made much of me, though she laughed a little at what she called my solemn face.

    Esther : a book for girls Rosa Nouchette Carey 1874

  • On Monday, the Family Leader released a response by Mr. Gingrich, who gave what he called a solemn vow "to defend and strengthen the family."

    NYT > Home Page By SUSAN SAULNY 2011

  • Earlier we told you that Limbaugh - in what he called a solemn tribute - honored the late Gordon Dancy.

    Latest Articles CSM 2009

  • In empires of eternal form, he never lived, a marble bust, in solemn air, august in strife, inert and noble, wreathed in gilt of autumn leaves.

    The Lucifer Cantos 7/13 Hal Duncan 2009

  • In empires of eternal form, he never lived, a marble bust, in solemn air, august in strife, inert and noble, wreathed in gilt of autumn leaves.

    Archive 2009-07-01 Hal Duncan 2009

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