magnificence
Americannoun
-
the quality or state of being magnificent; splendor; grandeur; sublimity.
the magnificence of snow-covered mountains; the magnificence of his achievements.
- Synonyms:
- stateliness, nobility, majesty
-
impressiveness of surroundings.
the magnificence of Versailles.
- Synonyms:
- sumptuousness, opulence, luxuriousness
noun
Etymology
Origin of magnificence
1300–50; Middle English < Latin magnificentia, equivalent to magnificent- magnificent + -ia -y 3; see -ence
Explanation
Magnificence is when something is incredibly grand, beautiful, or impressive. You might describe the magnificence of a cruise ship, for example, with its elaborate ballrooms and large swimming pools. When something makes a huge impression on you, especially for its hugeness or fanciness, it has the quality of magnificence. To a little kid, Disney World has magnificence, while an adult might be impressed by the magnificence of a first class European train car. In the fourteenth century, magnificence implied courage and nobility, as the word comes from the Latin root magnificus, which means both "great, noble, and eminent," and also "splendid, rich, or costly."
Vocabulary lists containing magnificence
That's Great!: Magn
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The Remains of the Day
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A Dance with Dragons
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It appears, then, that after the Senate had completed their Council Chamber and the prisons, they required a nobler door than that of the old Ziani Palace for their Magnificences to enter by.
From The Stones of Venice, Volume II (of 3), by Ruskin, John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
