prestige

[pre-steezh, -steej]

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noun

reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, rank, or other favorable attributes.

distinction or reputation attaching to a person or thing and thus possessing a cachet for others or for the public: The new discothèque has great prestige with the jet set.

adjective

having or showing success, rank, wealth, etc.

Origin of prestige

1650–60 for an earlier sense; < French (orig. plural): deceits, delusions, juggler's tricks < Latin praestīgiae juggler's tricks, variant of praestrīgiae, derivative from base of praestringere to blunt (sight or mind), literally, to tie up so as to constrict, equivalent to prae- pre- + stringere to bind fast; see stringent

Related formspres·tige·ful, adjective

Synonyms for prestige

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1. weight, importance.

Antonyms for prestige

1. disrepute.

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

Related Words for prestiges

status, dignity, weight, power, importance, prominence, standing, reputation, esteem, stature, cachet, control, kudos, preeminence, credit, celebrity, regard, rank, state, renown

British Dictionary definitions for prestiges

prestige

noun

high status or reputation achieved through success, influence, wealth, etc; renown

the power to influence or impress; glamour
(modifier)a prestige car

Word Origin for prestige

C17: via French from Latin praestigiae feats of juggling, tricks; apparently related to Latin praestringere to bind tightly, blindfold, from prae before + stringere to draw tight, bind

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 prestiges

prestige

1650s, "trick," from French prestige (16c.) "deceit, imposture, illusion" (in Modern French, "illusion, magic, glamour"), from Latin praestigium "delusion, illusion" (see prestigious). Derogatory until 19c.; sense of "dazzling influence" first applied 1815, to Napoleon.