ovation
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Ovation \O*va"tion\, n. [L. ovatio, fr. ovare to exult, rejoice,
triumph in an ovation; cf. Gr. ? to shout: cf. F. ovation.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) A lesser kind of triumph allowed to a
commander for an easy, bloodless victory, or a victory
over slaves.
[1913 Webster]
2. Hence: An expression of popular homage; the tribute of the
multitude to a public favorite.
[1913 Webster]
To rain an April of ovation round
Their statues. --Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
3. Especially: A prolonged applause for a person of group
after a speech or performance.
[PJC]
{standing ovation} a prolonged applause during which the
audience stands as a sign of special appreciation or
admiration.
[PJC]
from
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906)
OVATION, n. n ancient Rome, a definite, formal pageant in honor of
one who had been disserviceable to the enemies of the nation. A
lesser "triumph." In modern English the word is improperly used to
signify any loose and spontaneous expression of popular homage to the
hero of the hour and place.
"I had an ovation!" the actor man said,
But I thought it uncommonly queer,
That people and critics by him had been led
By the ear.
The Latin lexicon makes his absurd
Assertion as plain as a peg;
In "ovum" we find the true root of the word.
It means egg.
Dudley Spink
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
56 Moby Thesaurus words for "ovation":
acclaim, acclamation, anniversaries, applause, big hand,
burst of applause, celebrating, celebration, ceremony, cheer,
cheering, cheers, clap, clapping, clapping of hands, commemoration,
dressing ship, eclat, encore, fanfare, fanfaronade, festivity,
flourish of trumpets, hand, handclap, handclapping, holiday,
jubilee, kudos, laudation, marking the occasion, memorialization,
memory, observance, plaudit, plaudits, popularity, praise,
rejoicing, religious rites, remembrance, revel, rite,
ritual observance, round of applause, salute, salvo,
solemn observance, solemnization, testimonial, testimonial banquet,
testimonial dinner, thunder of applause, toast, tribute, triumph
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