pageant

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pag=eant

CIDE DICTIONARY

pageant, n. [OE. pagent, pagen, originally, a movable scaffold or stage, hence, what was exhibited on it, fr. LL. pagina, akin to pangere to fasten; cf. L. pagina page, leaf, slab, compaginare to join together, compages a joining together, structure. See Pact, Page of a book.].

•  A theatrical exhibition; a spectacle.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "To see sad pageants of men's miseries."  [1913 Webster]
•  An elaborate exhibition devised for the entertainmeut of a distinguished personage, or of the public; a show, spectacle, or display.  [1913 Webster]

  "The gaze of fools, and pageant of a day!"  [1913 Webster]

  "We love the man, the paltry pageant you."  [1913 Webster]

pageant, a. 

 Of the nature of a pageant; spectacular.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]

pageant, v. t. 

 To exhibit in show; to represent; to mimic.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pageant, n.
1 a a brilliant spectacle, esp. an elaborate parade. b a spectacular procession, or play performed in the open, illustrating historical events. c a tableau etc. on a fixed stage or moving vehicle.
2 an empty or specious show.

Etymology

ME pagyn, of unkn. orig.

THESAURUS

pageant

Grand Guignol, Passion play, Tom show, affair, antimasque, audience success, ballet, blazon, bomb, bravura, brilliancy, broadcast drama, burlesque show, ceremony, charade, cliff hanger, closet drama, comedy drama, cosmorama, critical success, cyclorama, daring, dash, daytime serial, demonstration, dialogue, diorama, disguise, display, documentary drama, drama, dramalogue, dramatic play, dramatic series, dramatics, duodrama, duologue, eclat, epic theater, etalage, event, exhibit, exhibition, exhibitionism, experimental theater, exposition, extravaganza, failure, false front, fanfaronade, figure, flair, flaunt, flaunting, flop, flourish, formality, gala, gasser, georama, giveaway, grandeur, happening, histrionics, hit, hit show, improvisational drama, legitimate drama, light show, manifestation, masque, melodrama, minstrel show, miracle, miracle play, monodrama, monologue, morality, morality play, music drama, musical revue, myriorama, mystery, mystery play, opera, pageantry, panel show, panorama, pantomime, parade, pastoral, pastoral drama, phantasmagoria, piece, play, playlet, pomp, presentation, pretentiousness, problem play, procession, psychedelic show, psychodrama, quiz show, radio drama, representation, review, revue, ritual, sensational play, serial, sham, shifting scene, show, showing-off, sight, sitcom, situation comedy, sketch, skit, soap, soap opera, sociodrama, spectacle, splash, splurge, stage play, stage show, staginess, straight drama, success, suspense drama, tableau, tableau vivant, talk show, teleplay, television drama, television play, theater of cruelty, theatrics, total theater, variety show, vaudeville, vaudeville show, vaunt, vehicle, word-of-mouth success, work

ROGET THESAURUS

pageant

Ostentation

N ostentation, display, show, flourish, parade, etalage, pomp, array, state, solemnity, dash, splash, splurge, glitter, strut, pomposity, pretense, pretensions, showing off, fuss, magnificence, splendor, coup d'oeil, grand doings, coup de theatre, stage effect, stage trick, claptrap, mise en scene, tour de force, chic, demonstration, flying colors, tomfoolery, flourish of trumpets, pageant, pageantry, spectacle, exhibition, exposition, procession, turn out, set out, grand function, f=ete, gala, field day, review, march past, promenade, insubstantial pageant, dress, court dress, full dress, evening dress, ball dress, fancy dress, tailoring, millinery, man millinery, frippery, foppery, equipage, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, form, formality, etiquette, puncto, punctilio, punctiliousness, starched stateliness, stateliness, mummery, solemn mockery, mouth honor, attitudinarian, fop, ostentatious, showy, dashing, pretentious, janty, jaunty, grand, pompous, palatial, high-sounding, turgid gairish, garish, gaudy, gaudy as a peacock, gaudy as a butterfly, gaudy as a tulip, flaunting, flashing, flaming, glittering, gay, splendid, magnificent, sumptuous, theatrical, dramatic, spectacular, ceremonial, ritual, solemn, stately, majestic, formal, stiff, ceremonious, punctilious, starched, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, decjed out, all decked out, en granite tenue, in best bib and tucker, in Sunday best, endimanch_e, chic, with flourish of trumpet, with beat of drum, with flying colors, ad captandum vulgus, honores mutant mores.

Appearance

N appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil, lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau, display, exposure, mise en sc ne, rising of the curtain, phantasm, phantom, pageant, spectacle, peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show, ombres chinoises, magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views, biograph, cinematograph, moving pictures, panorama, diorama, cosmorama, georama, coup de theatre, jeu de theatre, pageantry, insignia, aspect, angle, phase, phasis, seeming, shape, guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor, presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing, point of view, light, lineament feature trait lines, outline, outside, contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz, cast of countenance, profile, tournure, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy, outside, apparent, seeming, ostensible, on view, apparently, to all seeming, to all appearance, ostensibly, seemingly, as it seems, on the face of it, prima facie, at the first blush, at first sight, in the eyes of, to the eye, editio princeps.