1. (a.) Relating to external rite or ritual; as, a ceremonial occasion\; according to the forms of established rites.

2. (a.) Observant of forms; ceremonious. [In this sense ceremonious is now preferred.]

3. (n.) A system of rules and ceremonies, enjoined by law, or established by custom, in religious worship, social intercourse, or the courts of princes; outward form.

4. (n.) The order for rites and forms in the Roman Catholic church, or the book containing the rules prescribed to be observed on solemn occasions.

High-Church august baccalaureate service baptismal buckram celebration celebratory ceremonious ceremoniousness ceremony commemorative commencement conventional convocation courtly decorous dignified dignity duty empty formality eucharistic exercise exercises extrinsicality form form of worship formal formality formalization formula formular formulary function graduation graduation exercises gravity hieratic holy rite impersonality imposing inaugural inauguration initiation institution liturgic liturgical liturgistic liturgy lofty mannered mode of worship mummery mystery observance office order of worship ordinance paschal performance pomp pomposity pompous practice prescribed form primness religious ceremony rigid rigidness rite rite de passage rite of passage ritual ritual observance ritualistic rituality sacerdotal sacrament sacramental sacramentarian service set solemn solemnity solemnization starchiness starchy stately stiff stiffness stiltedness studied stylization stylized weight well-mannered