serene
[suh-reen]
- calm, peaceful, or tranquil; unruffled: a serene landscape; serene old age.
- clear; fair: serene weather.
- (usually initial capital letter) most high or august (used as a royal epithet, usually preceded by his, your, etc.): His Serene Highness.
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- serenity; tranquillity.
- Archaic. a clear or tranquil expanse of sea or sky.
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Origin of serene
First recorded in 1495–1505, serene is from the Latin word serēnus (of the sky, weather) clear, unclouded
Synonyms
See more synonyms for serene on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
1. disturbed. 2. clouded.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for serene
Contemporary Examples
Her Serene Highness also appears to have taken solace in extensive surgical alterations to her body over the past three years.
She describes the events with a serene demeanor and soft but rapid speech.
He apologizes to Mike, who is sitting there like a serene Buddha.
The beach extends for 10km and is pocketed with serene, uninhabited sections.
The mood is serene and polished, juxtaposing hard and soft, technology and craft.
Historical Examples
Her mother was looking at her with a serene comprehension and compassion.
Life and Death of Harriett FreanMay Sinclair
Burke retained his manner of serene indifference to the other's agitation.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
The General-in-chief was, as he had said, confident and serene.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
It slid off now at sight of Cornelia Opp's serene, sweet face.
Quaint CourtshipsVarious
But his serene confidence in his magic caught their credulity.
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
serene
- peaceful or tranquil; calm
- clear or brighta serene sky
- (often capital) honoured: used as part of certain royal titlesHis Serene Highness
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin serēnus
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 serene
adj.
mid-15c., "clear, calm," from Latin serenus "peaceful, calm, clear" (of weather), figuratively "cheerful, glad, tranquil," of uncertain origin; perhaps from a suffixed variant of PIE *ksero- "dry," source of Greek xeros "dry" (see xerasia). In English, applied to persons since 1630s. Related: Serenely.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper