Pageant, n.
Etymology: [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.]
1. A theatrical exhibition; a spectacle. "A pageant truly played." Shak. 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.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Pageant, a.
Of the nature of a pageant; spectacular. "Pageant pomp." Dryden.
Pageant, v. t.
To exhibit in show; to represent; to mimic. [R.] "He pageants us." Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for pageant; he lists it under ostentation.
Where he writes about it:
Pageant, pageantry, parade, and pomp refer principally to affairs of arms or state; as, a royal pageant; a military parade. — from ostentation
Pageant and pageantry are inferior to pomp, denoting spectacular display designed to impress the public mind, and since the multitude is largely ignorant and thoughtless, the words pageant and pageantry have a suggestion of the transient and unsubstantial. — from ostentation