splendor

American  

[splen-der] / ˈsplɛn dər /

especially British, splendour

noun

1. brilliant or gorgeous appearance, coloring, etc.; magnificence.

   the splendor of the palace.

   Synonyms:

   dash, show

   Antonyms:

   squalor

2. an instance or display of imposing pomp or grandeur.

   the splendor of the coronation.

3. grandeur; glory; brilliant distinction.

   the splendor of ancient Greek architecture.

   Synonyms:

   celebrity, renown, eminence, fame

4. great brightness; brilliant light or luster.

   Synonyms:

   refulgence, dazzle

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verb (used with object)

1. to make splendid by decorating lavishly; adorn.

verb (used without object)

1. to move or proceed with splendor, grandeur, or pomp.

Other Word Forms

• outsplendor verb (used with object)
• splendorous adjective
• splendrous adjective
• unsplendorous adjective
• unsplendorously adverb

Etymology

Origin of splendor

1400–50; < Latin splendor, equivalent to splend ( ēre ) to shine + -or -or ¹; replacing late Middle English splendure < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Example Sentences

She sees the splendor in land, water and wilderness and understands how to capture it with all the grace of a song.

From Salon

Mr. Gennari, who grew up in Lenox—a little too late for the splendors of Music Inn, except as a point of community pride—is perfectly equipped to tell this tale.

From The Wall Street Journal

If not, scientists risk missing the opportunity to view the system in its full splendor—which is particularly worrisome because the next chance won’t occur until 2091.

From Scientific American

The faces of suffering and splendor are not always as different as they seem.

From New York Times

Most of the last four years, though, Lorde lived as Ella among the greenery and waterfront splendor where she was raised, in and around Auckland, New Zealand, working to figure out her boundaries.

From New York Times

Related Words

• brilliance
• grandeur
• luster
• magnificence
• majesty
• pomp
• richness