a. [ad. F. cérémonieux, or L. cærimōniōsus, f. cærimōnia CEREMONY: see -OUS.]
1. Pertaining to, or consisting of, ceremonies or outward forms and rites; = CEREMONIAL, formal.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 57. The ceremonious lawe of Moises.
1602. Segar, Hon. Mil. & Civ., III. xlvii. § 1. 182. When he should haue been anointed with the holy oile, there was none found in the ceremonious Horne.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 34. Ceremonious rites due to the Coronation.
a. 1720. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), I. 53. Ty’d in Hymen’s ceremonious chain.
1737. Waterland, Eucharist, 443. They were ceremonious Observances made use of in Stipulations between God and Man.
2. Full of ceremony; accompanied with rites, religious or showy.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., III. i. 7. O, the Sacrifice, How ceremonious, solemne, and vn-earthly It was i’ th’ offring.
1658. Manton, Exp. Jude 3. A ceremonious ritual religion.
1805. Southey, Madoc in Azt., v. The pomp of ceremonious woe.
1883. Manch. Exam., 14 Dec., 5/2. A statue has been raised to him … and there was a ceremonious unveiling.
3. According to prescribed or customary formalities or punctilios.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 50. Let vs take a ceremonious leaue … of our seuerall friends.
1650[?]. Don Bellianis, 36. Words of ceremonious thanks.
1759. Johnson, Idler, No. 50, ¶ 10. Either in friendly or ceremonious condolence.
1780. Cowper, Lett., 12 July. To enter a room … with a most ceremonious bow.
1863. Mary Howitt, trans. F. Bremer’s Greece, II. xi. 1. His careful and somewhat ceremonious politeness.
† 4. According to the Ceremonial Law. Obs.
1656. S. Winter, Serm., 120. The holiness of children, which some say was ceremonious.
5. Of persons: Addicted to ritual observances (obs.); given to ceremony; punctilious in observance of formalities, esp. those of intercourse between ranks or persons.
1553. Bale, Vocacyon, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 337. [The earlier monks and hermits] were sumwhat ceremoniouse, but these [later corrupt monks] altogether superstitiouse.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. IV. vii. Wholly ceremonious about titles, degrees, inscriptions.
1667–8. Pepys, Diary, 1 Jan. To see the different humours of the gamesters to change their luck when it is bad, how ceremonious they are to call for new dice, to shift their places, [etc.].
1829. K. Digby, Broadst. Hon., I. 223. The ceremonious and ungrateful courtiers of Vienna.
