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# solemn

«solemn» in Mova's school dictionary: **very serious and not happy or joking, often in an…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (solemn, more solemn)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Solemn means very serious and not happy or joking, often in an important or sad moment. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#m1)

2) A solemn promise is a very serious, sincere promise. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In stories and life, solemn moments are funerals, ceremonies and remembering the dead (Remembrance Day, Anzac Day, Veterans Day). Phrases: «a solemn promise», «a solemn face», «a solemn occasion», «solemnly swear».

### examples

- She made a solemn promise to look after the puppy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#x1)
- The crowd was solemn during the minute's silence. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#x2)
- His face was solemn as he told us the bad news. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#x3)
- The funeral was a solemn occasion. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#x4)
- I solemnly swear to tell the truth. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#x5)
- Anzac Day begins with a solemn dawn service. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#x6)
- He struck a most solemn blow upon the piece of wood. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/#x7)

### note

Spelling trap: the «n» at the end is silent — SOL-um. Adverb: «solemnly». Opposite: «cheerful», «light-hearted».

### In the corpora

- ["Breathed his last" means died; it is old-fashioned and solemn.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/1-death-polite-and-joking/21/)
- [A covenant is a solemn promise or agreement; in the Bible God made covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/religion-ethics/3-noah-and-the-tower-of-babel/12/)
- [It is a sabbath of solemn rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; it is a statute for ever.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/LEV.490/)
- [On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no manner of servile work;](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/NUM.1073/)
- [And Jehu said: 'Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.' And they proclaimed it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/2KI.321/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «solemn» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solemn/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.