1. (n.) The oath of allegiance taken by Roman soldiers; hence, a sacred ceremony used to impress an obligation; a solemn oath-taking; an oath.

2. (n.) The pledge or token of an oath or solemn covenant; a sacred thing; a mystery.

3. (n.) One of the solemn religious ordinances enjoined by Christ, the head of the Christian church, to be observed by his followers; hence, specifically, the Eucharist; the Lord's Supper.

4. (v. t.) To bind by an oath.

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