majesty

[ maj-uh-stee ]

noun

, plural maj·es·ties.

1. regal, lofty, or stately dignity; imposing character; grandeur:

   majesty of bearing; the majesty of Chartres.

2. supreme greatness or authority; sovereignty:

   All paid tribute to the majesty of Rome.

3. (usually initial capital letter) a title used when speaking of or to a sovereign (usually preceded by his, her, or your ):

   His Majesty's Navy; Will your Majesty hear our petitions?

4. a royal personage, or royal personages collectively:

   The royal wedding was attended by the majesties of Europe.

5. Christ in Majesty, a representation of Christ as ruler of the universe.

Majesty

¹

/ ˈmædʒɪstɪ /

noun

1. (preceded by Your, His, Her, or Their ) a title used to address or refer to a sovereign or the wife or widow of a sovereign

majesty

²

/ ˈmædʒɪstɪ /

noun

1. great dignity of bearing; loftiness; grandeur
2. supreme power or authority
3. See royalty
   an archaic word for royalty

Word History and Origins

Origin of majesty¹

1250–1300; Middle English majeste < Middle French < Latin majestāt- (stem of majestās ) dignity, grandeur, equivalent to majes- (akin to majus < *mag-yos, neuter comparative of magnus large; major ) + -tāt- -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of majesty¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin mājestās; related to Latin major, comparative of magnus great

Example Sentences

Thus began an adventure that took us off the traffic-clogged circuits of Yellowstone into the majesty and solitude of Montana wilderness.

From Washington Post

One photo, taken the morning after he abandoned me, shows me on top of a mountain, my arms outstretched to underscore the majesty of what's around me.

From The Daily Beast

At 370,000 hectares, there’s plenty to keep you coming back to the Tarkine if you’re ready to submit to the majesty and magic of nature.

From Ozy

How much of this majesty might be appreciable via Zoom remains a work in progress.

From Washington Post

So much of the majesty of this landscape is tied to these dynamic sheets of moving ice.

From Outside Online

Three-dimensional shots attempt to capture the majesty of his triumphs from the artistic world to the scientific.

From The Daily Beast

Her Majesty is firmly of the view that this is a matter for the people of Scotland.

From The Daily Beast

It is there that you get the fullest sense of majesty and tragedy of this city transformed.

From The Daily Beast

To them, Her Imperial Majesty and Queen Empress was behaving in a manner unbecoming.

From The Daily Beast

A glittering spectacle of British pomp and majesty it may be, but the clothes are rather tight, and the room is somewhat airless.

From The Daily Beast

The Majesty on high has a colony and a people on earth, which otherwise is under the supremacy of the Evil One.

From Project Gutenberg

I beseech your Majesty to be pleased to have executed immediately what is most expedient for the royal service in this matter.

From Project Gutenberg

If not, I shall do so as soon as possible, as befits the importance of what is contained in them, and the service of your Majesty.

From Project Gutenberg

There it appears that your Majesty has ordered in this matter that consultation be held thereon.

From Project Gutenberg

Two appointments from your Majesty came last year to this metropolitan church of Manila.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• greatness