opulent, a.
(ˈɒpjʊlənt)
Also 7 oppulent.
[ad. L. opulens, -ent-em or opulent-us rich, wealthy, splendid, f. op-s, op-em power, might, resources, wealth: see -ulent. Cf. F. opulent (14th c. in Littré), It. opulente, -ento, Sp., Pg. opulento.]
1. Rich, wealthy, affluent.
| 1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 72 The Hanses should growe opulent, and possesse the whole trade of the realme. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) I. 394 The potentest monarchies, the proudest republicks, the opulentest cities have their growth, declinings, and periods. a 1704 T. Brown Two Oxford Scholars Wks. 1730 I. 10, I shall be strangely unfortunate if I meet not with some opulent widow. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. I. viii. 168 His way of life was splendid and opulent. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. i. 1 The arrangements of the house, and the general air of the house⁓keeping, indicated easy and even opulent circumstances. |
b. Yielding great wealth, lucrative.
| 1664 Evelyn Sylva (1679) 6 The richest and most opulent Wheat-lands. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India I. i. i. 12 So opulent and brilliant a commerce. |
2. transf. and fig. Rich or wealthy in some respect; abounding or profuse in some property: a. in mental wealth; b. in material possessions or qualities; c. in physical development; plump [from Fr.].
| 1791–1823 D'Israeli Cur. Lit., Libraries, Grollier, whose library was opulent in these luxuries. 1851 Carlyle Sterling i. xiv. (1872) 82 The certain prefigurement..of an opulent, genial and sunny mind. 1863 Woolner My Beautiful Lady 32, I wonder whether She now her braided opulent hair unlace. 1867 J. H. Stirling in Fortn. Rev. Oct. 380 The injustice of applying the epithet ‘destructive’ to such an opulent and affirmative soul. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 10 Mar. 2/1 Although a little short for her build, and somewhat opulent for statuary, she is superbly modelled. |
3. Of flowers, etc.: Having a wealth of blossom, tint, or fragrance; splendid.
| 1863 B. Taylor H. Thurston xiv. 181 The hyacinths..filling the walk with their opulent breath. 1868 Tennyson Lucretius 248 Or beast or bird or fish, or opulent flower. 1886 Woolner Nelly Gray 5 Our pathway..So rich with blossom, and opulent Successive honeysuckle scent. |
Hence ˈopulently adv., in an opulent manner or degree; richly, affluently, splendidly. ˈopulentness, wealthiness (Bailey vol. II, 1727).
| 1611 Cotgr., Richement, richly, wealthily, opulently. 1727 Bailey vol. II, Opulently. (Hence in Johnson, etc.) 1871 A. Austin Golden Age, We turned away, and opulently cold, Put back our swords of steel in sheaths of gold! |