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Origin and history of splendid

splendid(adj.)

1620s, "marked by grandeur," probably a shortening of earlier splendidious "wonderful magnificent" (early 15c.), from Latin splendidus "bright, shining, glittering; sumptuous, gorgeous, grand; illustrious, distinguished, noble; showy, fine, specious," from splendere "be bright, shine, gleam, glisten."

This is reconstructed to be from PIE *splnd- "to be manifest" (source also of Lithuanian splendžiu "I shine," Middle Irish lainn "bright").

An earlier form was splendent, splendaunt (late 15c., from Latin splendentem, past participle of splendere). Splendid is attested from 1640s as "brilliant, dazzling;" also from 1640s as "conspicuous, illustrious; very fine, excellent." Ironic use (as in splendid isolation, 1843) is attested from 17c. Jonson uses the expanded forms splendidous, splendidious.

also from 1620s

Entries linking to splendid

resplendent(adj.)

mid-15c., of color, "shining brilliantly, splendid, very bright," from Old French resplendant and directly from Latin resplendentem (nominative resplendens) "brilliant, radiant," present participle of resplendere "to glitter, shine brightly," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix, + splendere "to shine, be splendid" (see splendid). In 16c.-17c. often resplendant. Related: Resplendently.

splendidly(adv.)

"in a splendid manner, brilliantly, excellently," 1650s, from splendid + -ly (2).

splendor(n.)

early 15c., splendoure, "radiance, great brilliance; source of magnificence or excellence," from Old French splendor, splendour (12c.), Anglo-French esplendour, and directly from Latin splendor "brilliance, brightness," from splendere "be bright, shine" (see splendid). By 1610s as "great show of riches and elegance." Alternative splendency (1590s) is obsolete.

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    glorious
    late 13c., from Anglo-French glorious, Old French glorieus "glorious, blessed" (12c., Modern French glorieux), from Latin gloriosus "full of glory, famous," from gloria (see glory (n.)). In classical Latin and in English late 14c.-17c. it also could mean "boastful, vainglorious."
    splendiferous
    "brilliant, gorgeous," etymologically "splendor-bearing," considered a playful elaboration since its re-birth in 1843, but in 15c. it was good English, from Medieval Latin splendorifer, from splendor (see splendor) + ferre "to bear, carry," from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry," al
    brilliant
    "sparkling with light or luster," 1680s, from French brilliant "sparkling, shining" present participle of briller "to shine" (16c.), from Italian brillare "sparkle, whirl," perhaps from Vulgar Latin *berillare "to shine like a beryl," from berillus "beryl, precious stone," from L
    gorgeous
    c. 1500, "splendid, showy, sumptuously adorned" (of clothing), from French gorgias "elegant, fashionable," a word of unknown...
    royal
    mid-13c., "fit for a king;" late 14c., "pertaining to a king," from Old French roial "royal, regal; splendid, magnificent...The meaning "splendid, first-rate" is by 1853....
    aureate
    early 15c., "resembling gold, gold-colored," also figuratively, "splendid, brilliant," from Latin aureatus "decorated with...
    ripper
    very efficient or excellent person or thing, a 'ripping' fellow" (1838), from ripping (q.v.) in the sense of "excellent, splendid...
    magnificent
    mid-15c., "exalted, glorious, great in actions or deeds," from Old French magnificent, a back-formation from Latin magnificentior, comparative of magnificus "great, elevated, noble, distinguished," literally "doing great deeds," from magnus "great" (from PIE root *meg- "great") +
    excellent
    "unexcelled, distinguished for superior merit of any kind, of surpassing character or quality, uncommonly valuable for any reason, remarkably good," mid-14c., from Old French excellent "outstanding, excellent," from Latin excellentem (nominative excellens) "towering, prominent, d
    Platonic
    1530s, "of or pertaining to Greek philosopher Plato" (429 B.C.E.-c. 347 B.C.E.), from Latin Platonicus, from Greek Platōnikos. The name is Greek Platōn, a nickname in reference to his broad shoulders (from platys "broad;" from PIE root *plat- "to spread"); his original name was A

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