Celebrate
late Middle English (in celebrate (sense 2)): from Latin celebrat- ‘celebrated’, from the verb celebrare, from celeber, celebr- ‘frequented or honoured’.
wiktionary
From Middle English celebraten, from Latin celebratus, past pariticiple of celebrō(“frequent, go to in great numbers, celebrate, honor, praise”), from celeber(“frequented, populous”). Displaced native Old English fæġnian.
etymonline
celebrate (v.)
mid-15c., "to perform publicly with appropriate rites," originally of the Mass, from Latin celebratus "much-frequented; kept solemn; famous," past participle of celebrare "assemble to honor," also "to publish; sing praises of; practice often," originally "to frequent in great numbers," from celeber "frequented, populous, crowded;" with transferred senses of "well-attended; famous; often-repeated." Its etymology is unknown.
General sense of "commemorate or honor with demonstrations of joy" is from 1550s; formerly it also could be with demonstrations of sorrow or regret. Meaning "make widely known, praise, glorify" is from 1610s. Related: Celebrated; celebrating.
