ETYM Latin solemnitas, solennitas: cf. French solennité, solemnité, Old Fren. also sollempnité.
1. Seriousness; grave earnestness; formal dignity; gravity.
2. A rite or ceremony performed with religious reverence; religious or ritual ceremony.
3. Solemn state or feeling; awe or reverence; also, that which produces such a feeling.
4. A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form.