celebrant

[sel-uh-bruh nt]

noun

a participant in any celebration.
the officiating priest in the celebration of the Eucharist.
a participant in a public religious rite.

Origin of celebrant

1830–40; < Latin celebrant- (stem of celebrāns present participle of celebrāre to solemnize, celebrate), equivalent to celebr- (see celebrate) + -ant- -ant

Related formspre·cel·e·brant, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for celebrant

Historical Examples of celebrant

The celebrant kissed the tablet, and held it aloft before all the people.
English Villages
P. H. Ditchfield
The celebrant of the rite sings, invoking the spirit of the deceased.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India
Edgar Thurston
Henceforth he was the bondman of grace, the celebrant of grace.
The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Galatians
G. G. Findlay
Several minutes elapsed, however, and the celebrant did not appear.
Christmas Stories from French and Spanish writers
Antoinette Ogden
There was none of it observable in the stately motions of the celebrant.
Robert Annys: Poor Priest
Annie Nathan Meyer

British Dictionary definitions for celebrant

celebrant

noun

a person participating in a religious ceremony
Christianity an officiating priest, esp at the Eucharist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for celebrant

1731, from French célébrant "officiating clergyman" or directly from Latin celebrantem (nominative celebrans), present participle of celebrare (see celebrate).