splendid, a.
(ˈsplɛndɪd)
[ad. L. splendid-us, f. splendēre to be bright. So F. splendide, It. splendido, Sp. and Pg. esplendido.]
1. a. Marked by much grandeur or display; sumptuous, grand, gorgeous.
| 1624 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 172 His enterteynment..was as splendid as that country could afford. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §167 All cost was employed to make their Entertainments splendid. 1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Lady Rich 1 Jan., It is not very expensive to keep a splendid table. 1752 Young Brothers i. i, I know this splendid court of Macedon, And haughty Philip, well. 1797 S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. I. 367 Accommodation so splendid I know not that I should desire were I a prince. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xxii, The entertainment was splendid to profusion. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 175 The capital was excited by preparations for the most splendid coronation that had ever been known. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 176 He had the splendid tastes in which the English people most delighted. |
b. Of persons: Maintaining, or living in, great style or grandeur.
| 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. v. 80 But man is a Noble Animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave. a 1687 Petty Pol. Arith. (1690) 86 The King and some great Men of France appear more Rich and Splendid than those of the like Quality in England. 1779 Johnson L. P., Pope Wks. IV. 7 Pope was, through his whole life, ambitious of splendid acquaintance. |
2. a. Resplendent, brilliant, extremely bright, in respect of light or colour.
rare.
| 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 193 In the night, during which the streets are splendide with glistering Lights and Torches. 1750 tr. Leonardus' Mirr. Stones 154 The topaz is a most splendid and famous stone of those they call burning gems. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1824) II. 424 These splendid inhabitants of the air [sc. kingfishers] possess..the brightest colours, the roundest forms [etc.]. 1820 Keats Hyperion ii. 353 In each face he saw a gleam of light, But splendider in Saturn's. 1829 Chapters Phys. Sci. 319 These colours, already so splendid and various when seen in one aspect, are still more diversified [etc.]. |
b. Magnificent in material respects; made or adorned in a grand or sumptuous manner.
| 1685 Baxter Paraphr. N.T. Matt. vi. 28 A more beautiful flower than Solomon's most splendid Ornaments could match. 1699 C. Hopkins Court-Prosp., Peace i, All [rooms] she keeps Silent, but Splendider than that of Sleeps. 1802 in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874) 165 We arrived in this great and splendid capital. 1863 Lyell Antiq. Man 46 A splendid Hindoo temple has lately been discovered. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn lxv, Almost mad with misery, he returned to his splendid chamber in the Golden House. |
c. Having or embodying some element of material grandeur or beauty.
| 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 150 A splendid machine was constructed for this purpose [sc. ballooning]..by the younger Montgolfier. 1851 Thackeray in Scribner's Mag. II. 142/2 The splendider scenery of the Alps. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. i. 238 All these splendid phenomena are, I believe, produced by diffraction. |
| Comb. 1819 Lady Morgan Autobiog. (1859) 320 A most picturesque and splendid-looking stranger in Greek costume. |
d. In specific names of birds or insects.
| 1811 Shaw Gen. Zool. VIII. i. 191 Splendid Creeper... Steel-blue and gold-green Creeper, with black wings and tail [etc.]. 1832 J. Rennie Butterfl. & Moths 168 The Splendid Codling (Semasia Splendana, Stephens). |
3. a. Imposing or impressive by greatness, grandeur, or some similar excellence.
| 1653 Gauden Hierasp. Pref. 34 Persons of more ample conditions, splendider fortunes, and higher quality. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 68 ¶1 Of actions that deserve our attention, the most splendid are not always the greatest. 1784 Cowper Task v. 320 That thus he may procure His thousands, weary of penurious life, A splendid opportunity to die. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe xlii, For this service a splendid soul-scat was paid to the convent of Saint Edmund's. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 191 If a design was splendid, Mordaunt seldom inquired whether it were practicable. 1872 Morley Voltaire (1886) 3 Luther and Calvin in their separate ways brought into splendid prominence their new ideas of moral order. |
b. Dignified, haughty, lordly.
| 1833 T. Hook Parson's Dau. i. v, A splendid contempt for female intellect. |
4. Of persons: Illustrious, distinguished.
| 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §196 He intended the Discipline of the Church..should be applied to the greatest and most splendid Transgressors. 1660 Guillim's Heraldry (ed. 4) iii. iii. 115 Which Family is not a little splendid by the actions of two persons of it. |
5. Excellent; very good or fine.
| 1644 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) II. 215 Mr. Edwards hes written a splendid confutation of all Independents' Apologie. 1849–50 Alison Hist. Europe XIV. xciv. §4. 4 The summit of these ridges afforded a splendid position for the French artillery to fire upon the English guns. 1882 Proc. R. Geog. Soc. IV. 460 He was taught to be a splendid shot with the gun and with the bow. |
6. Used, by way of contrast, to qualify nouns having an opposite or different connotation.
splendid isolation,
phr. used with reference to the political and commercial uniqueness or isolation of Great Britain; also
transf. Cf. isolation 1 a (
quots. 1896
1,2).
| 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 252 Our state Of splendid vassalage. 1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. ii. 15 Even their best actions [are] no better than splendid sins. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. Wks. 1842 I. 44 In many cases this splendid confusion would destroy all use. 1848 H. Rogers Ess. (1874) I. vi. 294 Even the most successful crime is but a splendid misery. [1896 G. E. Foster in Official Rep. Deb. H. Com. Canada 16 Jan. 176 The great mother Empire stands splendidly isolated in Europe.] 1896 Times 22 Jan. 10/1 Splendid isolation... A few weeks ago England appeared to stand alone in the world, surrounded by jealous competitors and..unexpected hostility. 1898 19th Cent. Apr. 524 When she gives, proudly, notice to the whole world of her splendid isolation. 1902 J. Chamberlain in Times 7 Jan. 4/4 It is the duty of the British people to count upon themselves alone... I say alone, yes, in a splendid isolation, surrounded and supported by our kinsfolk. 1912 Review of Reviews July 63/1 The abandonment by Great Britain of her splendid isolation. 1933 Times 21 Feb. 12/3 A Nazi band played in splendid isolation in the square. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 13 Nov. 1/2 In a little while Williams and his bodyguard will be leaving this splendid isolation (we are in a hotel suite 30-odd floors above Central Park South) and going to the Ambassador Theatre. |