Draft:Solennial
Submission declined on 6 February 2026 by Fermiboson (talk).
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Comment: Interesting subject, but I don't see evidence of meeting WP:GNG. Aside from mentions in dictionaries, catalogues and such (which are primary sources), there doesn't seem to be any widespread attention to the word. You might want to see if there are contributions you can make to wikt:Solennial instead. Fermiboson (talk) 16:42, 6 February 2026 (UTC)
Solennial is an obsolete English adjective meaning "occurring once a year" or "annual."[1] The word was used briefly in the 17th century, reflecting early attempts to adapt Latin terms into English vocabulary for concepts related to time and recurrence. While rare and no longer in common use, it highlights the evolution of English words for periodicity, similar to how "annual" became standardized.
Etymology
[edit]The term "solennial" derives from Latin solennis (also spelled sollemnis), meaning "solemn," "customary," or "annual," combined with the English suffix "-ennial" (from Latin annus, meaning "year").[1][2] The Latin solennis itself originates from sollus (whole or complete) and annus (year), originally referring to yearly religious festivals or established customs performed in full observance.[3] In English, the word emerged as part of a broader trend in 17th-century lexicography, where scholars sought to enrich the language with precise, Latinate terms. Similar formations include "biennial" (every two years) and "perennial" (lasting through years), which survived into modern usage, while "solennial" did not.[4]
Historical usage
[edit]"Solennial" is documented in limited sources, reflecting its short-lived presence in English. The most prominent usage appears in Thomas Blount's Glossographia (1656), a pioneering English dictionary that interpreted "hard words" from various languages.[5][6] In it, Blount defines "solennial" as:
(solennis) yearly, used or done every year at a certain time, publick, solemn, accustomed.
This entry suggests the word was intended for scholarly or formal contexts, possibly describing recurring events like festivals or observances. By 1656, it was already rare, and the Oxford English Dictionary records it as obsolete shortly thereafter.[1] The Phrontistery's list of lost words cites its span as 1623–1656.[7]
Modern references
[edit]Though obsolete, "solennial" occasionally appears in contemporary discussions of etymology or rare words. In unrelated modern contexts, "Solennial" has been adopted as a proper noun, such as the title of a 2017 doom metal album by the band Alunah, where it evokes themes of solar rituals and nature cycles.[8][9][10] Similarly, it names a plastic-free international boutique grocery store, founded in 2016.[11][12][13] In linguistic scholarship, "solennial" exemplifies how words can briefly flourish before being eclipsed by simpler alternatives. Its inclusion in Blount's work, which influenced later dictionaries, underscores its place in the history of English lexicography.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "solennial, adj. meanings, etymology and more". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Solemn - Etymology, Origin & Meaning". Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Solemnity - Etymology, Origin & Meaning". Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "annual, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ Blount, Thomas (1656). Glossographia, or, A dictionary interpreting all such hard words of whatsoever language.
- ^ "Glossographia: or a dictionary, interpreting the hard words of whatsoever language, now used in our refined English tongue". Rulon-Miller Books. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Lost Words: S-Z". The Phrontistery. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "REVIEW & TRACK PREMIERE: Alunah, Solennial". The Obelisk. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Alunah – Solennial Review". Angry Metal Guy. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Alunah – Solennial (Review)". Wonderbox Metal. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Current details for ABN 28 609 823 878". ABN Lookup. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "About Us". Solennial. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Solennial - Straight from the source". Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Glossographia · 43. Words of the Years". Lehigh Library Exhibits. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
External links
[edit]Category:Obsolete English words Category:English words of Latin origin Category:17th-century neologisms
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