The English Language

[John McKenna]

Some regalia is worn on the person while some may be carried/held.

E.g. on ceremonial occasions the British monarch wears the crown of state and holds an orb in one hand, a sceptre in the other.

Google 'Royal Regalia' for more examples.

A town mayor also has regalia - a chain of office, &c. but is a commoner in the hierarchical scheme of things.

[soheil_hooshdaran]

A town mayor also has regalia - a chain of office, &c. but is a commoner in the hierarchical scheme of things.

Huh?! His regalia just means a chain of offices?

[Roger de Coverly]

Huh?! His regalia just means a chain of offices?

In that context, a "chain of office" is a large necklace.

http://www.whdarby.co.uk/chains-of-office/

[John McKenna]

Not sure who's yanking whose chain, above.

[soheil_hooshdaran]

What's the difference between 'solemnity' and 'seriousness'?'?

[MartinCarpenter]

Maybe that Solemn has some contetations of sadness, or at least regret, attached as well?

[John McKenna]

Solemnity shares with seriousness the complete absence of all levity, hilarity and frivolity.

However, solemnity is often marked by silence, and you can be serious without being solemn - as was demonstrated by the young John McEnroe - but YOU CANNOT BE solemn without being SERIOUS.

[soheil_hooshdaran]

What's the subject of the underllined?
Along the entire Northwest Coast, slaves and copper sheets (‘‘coppers,’’ Tlingit tinna) were the most valuable, their symbolism similar but not identical to that of other ritual prestations.

[MartinCarpenter]

Hadn't ever seen prestation as a word before, but the oracles insist it is one (~=payment)

Ok, there's a set of things that people are exchanging in some sort of ritual manner. The subject of the underlined are the slaves/copper sheets being exchanged. They're being compared to everything else that was exchanged at times.

[John McKenna]

'Prestation' seems to be rarely used in English - it is French and means payment to a feudal superior.

[Alistair Campbell]

What's the difference between 'solemnity' and 'seriousness'?'?

I would have said (off the top of my head) that solemnity implied seriousness (but not the other way round). So one could laugh at a matter, but still be treating it seriously.

[Alistair Campbell]

it is French and means payment to a feudal superior.

I've never heard the word prestation before (and the spell-checker doesn't like it). Is it like some sort of ECF membership?

[soheil_hooshdaran]

Oops...I thought it was a misspelling of presentation

[Alex Holowczak]

it is French and means payment to a feudal superior.

I've never heard the word prestation before (and the spell-checker doesn't like it). Is it like some sort of ECF membership?

No, it's a town in North Wales near Rhyl.

[MartinCarpenter]

Oops...I thought it was a misspelling of presentation

So did I! Google enlightened me.