| pageant | 1. A theatrical exhibition; a spectacle. "A pageant truly played." "To see sad pageants of men's miseries." (Spenser) 2. An elaborate exhibition devised for the entertainmeut of a distinguished personage, or of the public; a show, spectacle, or display. "The gaze of fools, and pageant of a day !" (Pope) "We love the man, the paltry pageant you." (Cowper) Origin: 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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