solemn

Meaning

Adjective

• Of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites; religious in nature; sacred.

Origin

• From Middle English solempne, solemne, from Old French solempne, solemne, or from its etymon Late Latin sōlempnis, sōlennis, from Latin sōlemnis, from sollemnis. The further etymology is uncertain; sollus (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂-) + epulum (in the sense of a ritual; perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ed-) has been suggested.