Commemorate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commemorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commemorating.]
Etymology: [L. commemoratus, p. p. of commemorare to remember; com- + memorare to mention, fr. memor mindful. See Memory.]
To call to remembrance by a special act or observance; to celebrate with honor and solemnity; to honor, as a person or event, by some act of respect of affection, intended to preserve the remembrance of the person or event; as, to commemorate the sufferings and dying love of our Savior by the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; to commemorate the Declaration of Independence by the observance of the Fourth of July. We are called upon to commemorate a revolution. Atterbury.
Syn. -- See Celebrate.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for commemorate; he lists it under celebrate.
Where he writes about it:
We celebrate the birth, commemorate the death of one beloved or honored. — from celebrate
We celebrate a national anniversary with music and song, with firing of guns and ringing of bells; we commemorate by any solemn and thoughtful service, or by a monument or other enduring memorial. — from celebrate
We keep the Sabbath, solemnize a marriage, observe an anniversary; we celebrate or observe the Lord's Supper in which believers commemorate the sufferings and death of Christ. — from celebrate