SOLEMN, SOLEMNITY . The adj. ‘solemn’ frequently occurs in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , always with assembly or meeting or some such word, and always in its early sense of ‘regular’ or ‘public’ Thus ‘a solemn feast’ means simply ‘a stated feast’; there is no corresponding word in the Hebrew. In the same way ‘solemnity’ means ‘public occasion.’ How much this word, as used in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , differs from its modern meaning, may be seen from Shaks., Midsummer Night’s Dream , v. i. 376:
‘A fortnight hold we this solemnity,
In nightly revels and new jollity.’