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Sermon vs Ceremony - What's the difference?

sermon | ceremony |

As nouns the difference between sermon and ceremony

is that sermon is religious discourse; a written or spoken address on a religious or moral matter while ceremony is a ritual with religious significance.

As a verb sermon

is to discourse to or of, as in a sermon.

sermon

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Religious discourse; a written or spoken address on a religious or moral matter.
  • *, chapter=3
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.”  He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon , he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.}}
  • A lengthy speech of reproval.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (poetic, obsolete) To discourse to or of, as in a sermon.
  • (Spenser)
  • (poetic, obsolete) To tutor; to lecture.
  • * 1607 , , II. ii. 177:
  • Come, sermon me no further.
    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    ceremony

    Alternative forms

    * (both archaic)

    Noun

    (ceremonies)
  • A ritual with religious significance.
  • An official gathering to celebrate, commemorate, or otherwise mark some event.
  • A formal socially established behaviour, often in relation to people of different ranks.
  • (obsolete) An omen or portent.
  • * 1599 , , II. i. 197:
  • For he is superstitious grown of late, / Quite from the main opinion he held once / Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies.
  • * 1599 , , II. ii. 14:
  • Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, / Yet now they fright me.

    Derived terms

    * ceremonial * ceremonially * ceremonialness * ceremonious * ceremoniously * ceremoniousness * ramp ceremony