adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:P R AH0 S EH1 SH AH0 N AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:P R OW0 S EH1 SH AH0 N AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of, pertaining to, or used during a procession, particularly at the start of a religious ceremony or wedding.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
1799, Isaac D’Israeli, Mejnoun and Leila, the Arabian Petrarch and Laura, Book 4, in Romances, London: Cadell and Davies et al., pp. 170-171, The nuptial day arrives. The virgin, preceded by a splendid retinue, and followed by her mother, her female relatives, and the damsels of her tribe, issues from the tent of her father. [...] The women then followed with solemn and processional steps.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A hymn or other music used during a procession; prosodion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A group of people or things moving along in an orderly, stately, or solemn manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: procession
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A service book relating to ecclesiastical processions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
c. 1640s, John Gregory, “Episcopus Puerorum In Die Innocentium: Or, A Discovery of an Ancient Custom in the Church of Sarum, making an Anniversary Bishop among the Choristers” in The Works of the Reverend and Learned Mr. John Gregory, London: R. Royston and T. Williams, 1671, p. 114, By the Use of Sarum (for ’tis almost the only place where I can hear any thing of this; that of York in their Processional seems to take no notice of it) upon the Eve to Innocents Day the Chorister-Bishop was to go in solemn Procession with his fellows [...]
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
of or relating to or characteristic of a procession
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
in good processional order
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective
Meaning 6
intended for use in a procession
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
processional music
processional cross
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
religious music used in a procession
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: prosodion
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: religious music, church music
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English procession Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English processional From procession + -al.
Across languages
Translations
1 source translations are retained for this English entry.
