[f. L. commemorāt-, ppl. stem of commemorāre to bring to remembrance, make mention of, f. com- + memorāre to relate, mention. Cf. F. commémorer.]
1. trans. † a. To call to the remembrance of hearers or readers; to make mention of, relate, or rehearse. Obs. b. To mention as worthy of remembrance; to make eulogistic or honorable mention of; to celebrate in speech or writing.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 206. It is to be acknowledged and thankfully commemorated, that this age hath not beene so utterly barren of good Princes.
1616. Bullokar, Commemorate, to rehearse or make mention.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Warres, 477. The Britannica, or Spoonwort of Pliny, which a most diligent Writer commemorates, that the Romans used against the same Disease.
a. 1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xxxiii. 282. The … Tempter did commemorate unto her … the Prohibition.
1714–23. Ayliffe, Univ. Oxf., II. III. i. 133. The Vice-Chancellor closes the Act in a solemn speech; wherein it is usual for him to commemorate the Transactions of the year past, and especially such Benefactions as have been given to the University.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., II. One of the Prophets, commemorating the miraculous providence of God, in conducting the Israelites to Canaan.
1876. Green, Short Hist., v. 213. Dante … whom he [Chaucer] commemorates so reverently in his verse.
2. To call to remembrance, or preserve in memory, by some solemnity or celebration. (For the Eccles. use, cf. COMMEMORATION 2 b.)
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., II. ix. 376. The constant Form of all the Liturgies … Μεμνημένοι προσφέρομεν … ‘Commemorating,’ or by Commemorating, we offer.’
1701. Atterbury, Serm. (1740), I. vii. 247. We are call’d upon to commemorate a Revolution, as surprizing in its Manner, as happy in its Consequences,… as any Age or Country … can shew.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), II. App. 378. It may perhaps be asked, why Beda is commemorated in the ancient calendars on the 27th of May, if he died on the 26th.
1872. W. E. Scudamore, Notitia Euchar., 336. In the East … the Four great General Councils were commemorated in the Diptychs.
1883. Addis & Arnold, Cath. Dict., s.v. Commemorations, As it would be difficult to say the Mass and office of two feasts on the same day, the Church, as a rule, celebrates the greater feast and merely commemorates the inferior one.
3. Said of things: To be a memorial or memento of; to preserve the remembrance of.
1766. [see next].
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. vii. 216. Dates, which commemorate events, furnish no discovery of their causes.
1840. Macaulay, Clive, Ess., 508/1. The stately monument which was designed to commemorate triumphs of France in the East.
Hence Commemorated ppl. a., Commemorating vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 448. On a commemorating stone … is this inscription.
1875. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. I. xiv. 315. The commemorating processes, by which organic remains become fossilized.
