Found 1 items, similar to Solemn League and Covenant.
English → English (gcide) Definition: Solemn League and Covenant Solemn \Sol"emn\, a. [OE. solempne, OF. solempne, L. solemnis, solennis, sollemnis, sollennis; sollus all, entire + annus a year; properly, that takes place every year; -- used especially of religious solemnities. Cf. Silly, Annual.] 1. Marked with religious rites and pomps; enjoined by, or connected with, religion; sacred. [1913 Webster] His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned. --Milton. [1913 Webster] The worship of this image was advanced, and a solemn supplication observed everry year. --Bp. Stillingfleet. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to a festival; festive; festal. [Obs.] “On this solemn day.” --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 3. Stately; ceremonious; grand. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] His feast so solemn and so rich. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] To-night we hold a splemn supper. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 4. Fitted to awaken or express serious reflections; marked by seriousness; serious; grave; devout; as, a solemn promise; solemn earnestness. [1913 Webster] Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage With solemn touches troubled thoughts. --Milton. [1913 Webster] There reigned a solemn silence over all. --Spenser. [1913 Webster] 5. Real; earnest; downright. [Obs. & R.] [1913 Webster] Frederick, the emperor, . . . has spared no expense in strengthening this city; since which time we find no solemn taking it by the Turks. --Fuller. [1913 Webster] 6. Affectedly grave or serious; as, to put on a solemn face. “A solemn coxcomb.” --Swift. [1913 Webster] 7. (Law) Made in form; ceremonious; as, solemn war; conforming with all legal requirements; as, probate in solemn form. --Burrill. --Jarman. --Greenleaf. [1913 Webster] Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant, 2. [1913 Webster] Syn: Grave; formal; ritual; ceremonial; sober; serious; reverential; devotional; devout. See Grave. [1913 Webster] League \League\ (l[=e]g), n. [F. ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare to bind; cf. Sp. liga. Cf. Ally a confederate, Ligature.] 1. An alliance or combination of two or more nations, parties, organizations, or persons, for the accomplishment of a purpose which requires a continued course of action, as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial, religious, or political interests, etc. [1913 Webster] And let there be 'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. --Denham. [1913 Webster] 2. Specifically: (Sports) An association of sports teams that establishes rules of play, decides questions of membership in the league, and organizes matches between the member teams. In some cases a sports league is called a conference, as in the National Football Conference. [PJC] Note: A league may be offensive or defensive, or both; offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking a common enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual defense of each other against an enemy. [1913 Webster] The Holy League, an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in 1576 by influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion of Protestants from the throne of France. Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant,2. The land league, an association, organized in Dublin in 1879, to promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its avowed objects being to secure fixity of tenure, fair rent, and free sale of the tenants' interest. It was declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous prosecutions have failed to suppress it. Syn: Alliance; confederacy; confederation; coalition; combination; compact; co["o]peration. [1913 Webster]