pageantry
PA-juhn-tree
/ˈpædʒəntri/
Elaborate display or ceremony.
Suggests a combination of tradition, costume, and grand public performance.
The story behind the word. Originally, a 'pageant' was the movable stage or wagon used in medieval mystery plays. 'Pageantry' became the word for the grand shows performed on these stages.
Word relationships
- pomp: Pomp is the splendid display of dignity; pageantry is the actual theatrical/ceremonial event.
- simplicity: The absence of elaborate display.
Commonly confused with
- spectacle: Spectacle can be accidental or negative; pageantry is always intentional and ceremonial.
Word family
- pageant (noun): a public entertainment consisting of a procession of people in costume
Collocations
- royal pageantry
- pomp and pageantry
- colorful pageantry
Example sentences
- "The pageantry of the past was brought to life in the coronation ceremony." History
Memory hook
Pageantry = Pages of history on a stage. Grand ceremonial show.
When not to use
Too heavy a word for a simple birthday party.
Fun facts
- The word 'page' (as in a book) comes from the same Latin root, 'pagina.'
Related words
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