Observance vs Solemnity - What's the difference?
observance | solemnity |
The practice of complying with a law, custom, command or rule
The custom of celebrating a holiday or similar occasion
Observation or the act of watching
(religion) A rule governing a religious order, especially in the Roman Catholic church
The quality of being deeply serious and sober or solemn.
* Addison
* J. Edwards
An instance or example of solemn behavior; a rite or ceremony performed with reverence.
* Alexander Pope
* Atterbury
(legal) A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid.
As nouns the difference between observance and solemnity
is that observance is the practice of complying with a law, custom, command or rule while solemnity is the quality of being deeply serious and sober or solemn.observance
English
(wikipedia observance)Alternative forms
* observaunce (obsolete)Noun
(en noun)solemnity
English
Noun
(solemnities)- the solemnity of a funeral
- The stateliness and gravity of the Spaniards shows itself in the solemnity of their language.
- These promises were often made with great solemnity and confirmed with an oath.
- Great was the cause; our old solemnities / From no blind zeal or fond tradition rise, / But saved from death, our Argives yearly pay / These grateful honours to the god of day.
- The forms and solemnities of the last judgment.
