Pomp is splendid ceremony and display. Pomp and circumstance, all the pomp of a coronation, without pomp.
Pomp and circumstance is the fixed phrase, from Shakespeare and then from Elgar's marches, one of which is played at American graduations. Alone, pomp carries a hint that the display is out of proportion.
1nounpompSplendid ceremony and display.
“The royal wedding was celebrated with great pomp, with golden carriages and trumpets.”
pomp is a ceremony.
Greek pompe means a solemn procession, from pempein, to send.
Ancient Greek
πομπή — a sending, a solemn procession, pomp
Latin
pompa — pomp
Old French
pompe
Middle English
pomp
English, today
pomp
Built from
The noun is derived from Middle English pomp, pompe, from Old French pompe, from Latin pompa (“pomp”), from Ancient Greek πομπή (“a sending, a solemn procession, pomp”), from πέμπω (“to send”). The verb is derived from Middle English pompen, from pomp, pompe (see above).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA