commemoration
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The end of Lent term at Oxford, when honorary degrees are conferred and certain prizes given, and when men have friends "up."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “commemoration” mean?
The end of Lent term at Oxford, when honorary degrees are conferred and certain prizes given, and when men have friends "up."
Is “commemoration” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.