magnificence

[mag-nif-uh-suhns]

See more synonyms for magnificence on Thesaurus.com

noun

the quality or state of being magnificent; splendor; grandeur; sublimity: the magnificence of snow-covered mountains; the magnificence of his achievements.
impressiveness of surroundings: the magnificence of Versailles.

Origin of magnificence

1300–50; Middle English < Latin magnificentia, equivalent to magnificent- magnificent + -ia -y³; see -ence

Synonyms for magnificence

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1. majesty, nobility, stateliness. 2. luxuriousness, opulence, sumptuousness.

Antonyms for magnificence

2. squalor, poverty.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for magnificence

greatness, splendor, elegance, richness, radiance, majesty, show, brilliance, pomp, glitter, style, swank, lavishness, beauty, importance, ostentation, post, flourish, grace, loftiness

Examples from the Web for magnificence

Contemporary Examples of magnificence

Magnificence By Lydia Millet A woman moves into an old house full of taxidermy in the aftermath of trauma.
This Week’s Hot Reads: Oct. 29, 2012
Nicholas Mancusi
October 29, 2012
Suddenly, she questions, "Who wants to live like that anymore, all that majesty and magnificence?"
Billionaire Divorcee's Happy Ending
Sandra McElwaine
January 24, 2011
The magnificence of our legal system, your Honor, is that we do not seek an eye for an eye.
Madoff's Lawyer Issues Final Plea
The Daily Beast
June 29, 2009

Historical Examples of magnificence

A queen in the magnificence of her courtly surroundings could not have conquered him so quickly.
The Dream
Emile Zola
In all their magnificence they stalked abroad, lords of the veldt.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White
But the visions of Mrs Verloc lacked nobility and magnificence.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
Connal enjoyed Ormond's surprise at the magnificence of his hotel.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
There may be magnificence in the smashing; but the thing is smashed.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton

British Dictionary definitions for magnificence

magnificence

noun

the quality of being magnificent

Word Origin for magnificence

C14: via French from Latin magnificentia

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 magnificence

mid-14c., "great-mindedness, courage," from Old French magnificence "splendor, nobility, grandeur," from Latin magnificentia "splendor, munificence," from stem of magnificus "great, elevated, noble, eminent," also "splendid, rich, fine, costly," literally "doing great deeds," from magnus "great" (see magnate) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Meaning "greatness, grandeur, glory" in English is from late 14c. That of "beauty, splendor, wealth" is 15c. As one of the Aristotelian and scholastic virtues, it translates Greek megaloprepeia "liberality of expenditure combined with good taste."