gorgeous, a.
(ˈgɔːdʒəs)
Forms: 5 gorgayse, 6 gorgays, gorges, gorgyas, gorgyo(u)s(e, gorge(o)us(e, 6–7 gorgi(o)us(e, 6– gorgeous.
[ad. OF. gorgias elegantly or finely dressed, fashionable, gay: of uncertain origin.]
1. Adorned with rich or brilliant colours; sumptuously gay or splendid; showy, magnificent: a. of persons (with reference to dress).
With quots. 1560 and 1631 cf. glutton 1 b.
| c 1495 Epitaffe etc. in Skelton's Wks. (1843) II. 391 Ladyes, damosels, mynyonat and gorgayse. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virtue vi. ix, Impossyble it is for me to dyscouere How gorges she was and gretly magnyfyed. 1507 Justes of May & June 117 in Hazl. E.P.P. II. 117 Other there were That were Joly and gorgyas in theyr gere. 1560 Becon New Catech. Wks. 1564 I. 447 b, That gorgious rych gloton was condemned..because he would shew no mercye to the poore miserable begger Lazarus. 1607 Dekker Whore Babylon Wks. 1873 II. 241, I am not gorgious in attire, But simple, plaine and homely. 1613 Wither Sat. Ess. (1615) 163 And yet the Prince that's gorgioust in array, Must lie as naked as his Groome in clay. 1631 R. H. Arraignm. Whole Creature xi. §2. 102 The Georgeous, and glurtenous Gospels Helluoh, that would not feast Lazarvs. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 184 ¶8 My Sister does not affect to be gorgeous in her Dress. 1848 Dickens Dombey iv, Teeming with suggestions of..gorgeous princes of a brown complexion sitting on carpets. |
b. of things, esp. dress, decorated rooms, etc.; also of colour.
| 1533 Cranmer in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 36 Severall bargis deckyd after the most gorgiouse and sumptuous maner. 1545 Brinklow Compl. xxiv. (1874) 69 What lordes haue more gorgyos houses than thei haue? 1623 Sir F. Cottington in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 142 The late proclamation against gorgeous apparel dispensed with. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 120 With gorgeous Wings, the Marks of Sov'reign Sway, The two contending Princes make their way. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. V. 91 The Irish took the field, like their brethren of Britain, in gorgeous array. 1813 Byron Br. Abydos ii. iii, All that can eye or sense delight Are gather'd in that gorgeous room. 1851 Layard Pop. Acc. Discov. Nineveh xiii. 346 Sculptured in alabaster, and painted in gorgeous colours. 1876 Black Madcap V. xviii. 170 They were in the land of gorgeous sunsets. |
c. transf. esp. of phraseology and literary colouring; rarely of an action: Dazzling.
| 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer i. F iv b, Gorgeous and fine woordes. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 263 b, The gorgeous neattnes of Ciceroe's speach. 1635 A. Stafford Fem. Glory (1869) 47 All morall Vertues whatso⁓ever are no better than gorgious sins. 1857 Willmott Pleas. Lit. xxi. 130 The gorgeous tale of genius is always left half told. 1874 Deutsch Rem. 65 They keep our imagination spell-bound by their gorgeous lore. |
2. colloq. Used as an epithet of strong approbation. (Cf. splendid.)
| 1883 Fargo (Dakota) Argus 25 Sept., The northwestern editors, who recently went excursioning over the famous ‘Monon Route’..had a gorgeous time. Mod. That's gorgeous! How gorgeous! |