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Use and Misuse / Re: No need to hold “celebrant” in a straightjacket
« on: April 29, 2017, 11:38:58 AM »
Let me add Merriam-Webster's Learner's definition of celebrant to your list:
2 US : a person who celebrates something
Although the word celebrant is also acceptable in this context, it is not normally used by Americans or other native speakers in everyday situations. My relative used to ask, "Who's the celebrant?" or "Where's the celebrant?" until one of her colleagues "corrected" her, so she started to use celebrator:
Who's / Where's the celebrator?
However, Americans would normally use birthday boy/girl (colloquial) regardless of the age of the one celebrating. (The terms celebrant or celebrator is normally used in formal situations.)
Who's birthday are we celebrating?
Where's the birthday girl?
2 US : a person who celebrates something
Although the word celebrant is also acceptable in this context, it is not normally used by Americans or other native speakers in everyday situations. My relative used to ask, "Who's the celebrant?" or "Where's the celebrant?" until one of her colleagues "corrected" her, so she started to use celebrator:
Who's / Where's the celebrator?
However, Americans would normally use birthday boy/girl (colloquial) regardless of the age of the one celebrating. (The terms celebrant or celebrator is normally used in formal situations.)
Who's birthday are we celebrating?
Where's the birthday girl?