cel

n. [ OE. celidoine, OF. celidoine, F. chélidoine, fr. L. chelidonia (sc. herba), fr. chelidonius pertaining to the swallow, Gr. chelido`nios, fr. chelidw`n the swallow, akin to L. hirundo a swallow. ] (Bot.) A perennial herbaceous plant (Chelidonium majus) of the poppy family, with yellow flowers. It is used as a medicine in jaundice, etc., and its acrid saffron-colored juice is used to cure warts and the itch; -- called also greater celandine and swallowwort. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lasser celandine, the pilewort (Ranunculus Ficaria). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the type genus of the Celastraceae, comprising the plants called climbing bittersweet; bittersweet and shrubby bittersweet; they are woody vines and shrubs native chiefly to Asia and Australia, bearing yellow to orange capsules which open to expose red-coated seeds. See also bittersweet{ 3b }.
Syn. -- genus Celastrus. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ L. caelatura, fr. caelare to engrave in relief. ] 1. The act or art of engraving or embossing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is engraved. [ Obs. ] Hakewill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. celebrans, p. pr. of celebrare. See Celebrate. ] One who performs a public religious rite; -- applied particularly to an officiating priest in the Roman Catholic Church, as distinguished from his assistants. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Celebrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Celebrating. ] [ L. celebratus, p. p. of celebrare to frequent, to celebrate, fr. celeber famous. ] 1. To extol or honor in a solemn manner; as, to celebrate the name of the Most High. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To honor by solemn rites, by ceremonies of joy and respect, or by refraining from ordinary business; to observe duly; to keep; as, to celebrate a birthday. [ 1913 Webster ]

From even unto even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath. Lev. xxiii. 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To perform or participate in, as a sacrament or solemn rite; to solemnize; to perform with appropriate rites; as, to celebrate a marriage.

Syn. -- To commemorate; distinguish; honor. -- To Celebrate, Commemorate. We commemorate events which we desire to keep in remembrance, when we recall them by some special observace; as, to commemorate the death of our Savior. We celebrate by demonstrations of joy or solemnity or by appropriate ceremonies; as, to celebrate the birthday of our Independence. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are called upon to commemorate a revolution as surprising in its manner as happy in its consequences. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

Earth, water, air, and fire, with feeling glee,
Exult to celebrate thy festival. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having celebrity; distinguished; renowned. [ 1913 Webster ]

Celebrated for the politeness of his manners. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Distinguished; famous; noted; famed; renowned; illustrious. See Distinguished. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. celebratio. ] The act, process, or time of celebrating. [ 1913 Webster ]

His memory deserving a particular celebration. Clarendok. [ 1913 Webster ]

Celebration of Mass is equivalent to offering Mass Cath. Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

To hasten the celebration of their marriage. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who celebrates; a praiser. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]