august

[aw-guhst]

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adjective

inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic: an august performance of a religious drama.

venerable; eminent: an august personage.

Origin of august

1655–65; < Latin augustus sacred, grand, akin to augēre to increase. See eke¹

Related formsau·gust·ly, adverbau·gust·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for augustness

grandiosity, dignity, breadth, pomp, glory, majesty, richness, beauty, gravity, greatness, brilliance, vastness, splendor, opulence, magnificence, nobility, transcendency, fineness, elevation, eminence

Examples from the Web for augustness

Historical Examples of augustness

The child murmured, Let me stay in the bright presence of your Augustness.
Japanese Fairy Tales
Grace James
Augustness, how should such a lady carry in her arms a bundle of firewood?
The Ninth Vibration And Other Stories
L. Adams Beck
Augustness, nothing but the country wench and moon and snow.
The Ninth Vibration And Other Stories
L. Adams Beck
Augustness, nothing but the harsh voice of the wood-cutter's daughter.
The Ninth Vibration And Other Stories
L. Adams Beck
Augustness, the dull eyes of this slave are blinded with beauty.
The Ninth Vibration And Other Stories
L. Adams Beck

British Dictionary definitions for augustness

august

adjective

dignified or imposingan august presence

of noble birth or high rankan august lineage

Derived Formsaugustly, adverbaugustness, noun

Word Origin for august

C17: from Latin augustus; related to augēre to increase

August

noun

the eighth month of the year, consisting of 31 days

Word Origin for August

Old English, from Latin, named after the emperor Augustus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for augustness

august

adj.

1660s, from Latin augustus "venerable, majestic, magnificent, noble," probably originally "consecrated by the augurs, with favorable auguries" (see augur (n.)); or else "that which is increased" (see augment).

August

eighth month, 1097, from Latin Augustus (mensis), sixth month of the later Roman calendar, renamed from Sextilis in 8 B.C.E. to honor emperor Augustus Caesar, literally "Venerable Caesar" (see august (adj.)). In England, the name replaced native Weodmonað "weed month."