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august

[aw-guhst]
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adjective
  1. inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic: an august performance of a religious drama.
  2. venerable; eminent: an august personage.
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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. 2018

Related Words

grandiositydignitybreadthpompglorymajestyrichnessbeautygravitygreatnessbrilliancevastnesssplendoropulencemagnificencenobilitytranscendencyfinenesselevationeminence

Examples from the Web for augustness

Historical Examples

  • 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?

  • Augustness, the dull eyes of this slave are blinded with beauty.

  • Augustness, nothing but the harsh voice of the wood-cutter's daughter.

  • Augustness, nothing but the country wench and moon and snow.

British Dictionary definitions for augustness

august

adjective
  1. dignified or imposingan august presence
  2. of noble birth or high rankan august lineage
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Derived Formsaugustly, adverbaugustness, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin augustus; related to augēre to increase

August

noun
  1. the eighth month of the year, consisting of 31 days
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Word Origin

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).

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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."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper