"Centenary" or "centennial"?

[ghost of miles]

OK, great minds of Organissimo, divine me this--when discussing the 100th anniversary of a jazz musician's birth (or any other figure of note), is it correct to use the term "centenary" or "centennial"? Online definitions of both words don't seem to provide a clear answer, though a Google search did turn up this rather amusing rant from 1911:

"Centenary" vs. "centennial"

Note: next June 11 will mark the centenary--or centennial--of this article's appearance in the NY Times.

[Brad]

I believe the correct word would be centennial as in the "centennial of his birth."

[Matthew]

I always thought centennial is used to mark 100 years exactly, and centenary was for multiples of 100. Though, now that I think of it, 1976 was known as the

Bi-Centennial of America. I've never heard of tri-centennial, so maybe it's only used for one or two hundred years.

[BruceH]

No, I've heard of "tricentennial" and even "quincentennial" (500 years.) Probably because I read a lot of science fiction when growing up.

(FWIW, I suspect James Michener would use "centennial.")

I've got to admit, while we're on the subject, one of my favorite words is "sesquicentennial" which means 150th anniversary. Back in my free-wheeling bachelor days a bunch of friends and I threw a party to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Michigan statehood. Good times, good times...

Edited May 31, 2010 by BruceH

[Quincy]

I've got to admit, while we're on the subject, one of my favorite words is "sesquicentennial" which means 150th anniversary. Back in my free-wheeling bachelor days a bunch of friends and I threw a party to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Michigan statehood. Good times, good times...

And it's a fun word to slur while you're celebrating. Both Hannibal MO and later their most famous resident Mark Twain were recognized on their sesquicentennials while I lived near there.