splendor

American  

[splen-der] / ˈsplɛn dər /

especially British, splendour

noun

1. brilliant or gorgeous appearance, coloring, etc.; magnificence.

   the splendor of the palace.

   Synonyms:

   dash, show

   Antonyms:

   squalor

2. an instance or display of imposing pomp or grandeur.

   the splendor of the coronation.

3. grandeur; glory; brilliant distinction.

   the splendor of ancient Greek architecture.

   Synonyms:

   celebrity, renown, eminence, fame

4. great brightness; brilliant light or luster.

   Synonyms:

   refulgence, dazzle

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verb (used with object)

1. to make splendid by decorating lavishly; adorn.

verb (used without object)

1. to move or proceed with splendor, grandeur, or pomp.

Other Word Forms

• outsplendor verb (used with object)
• splendorous adjective
• splendrous adjective
• unsplendorous adjective
• unsplendorously adverb

Etymology

Origin of splendor

1400–50; < Latin splendor, equivalent to splend ( ēre ) to shine + -or -or ¹; replacing late Middle English splendure < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Example Sentences

And it would be a shame to leave, missing out on all that freezing cold wintry splendor.

From Literature

His fugues are a draftsman’s rendering of heavenly splendor.

From Los Angeles Times

The music is so overwhelmingly beautiful that Toño declares his mission to bring Lalo’s genius to the world’s attention and, by doing so, to spotlight the overlooked cultural splendor of his country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Watts’ take on Jackie O doesn’t hit such heights, but the actor does, in some scenes, achieve a gracious splendor that does justice to her subject’s memory.

From Salon

In Ms. Skuse’s expert and frequently humorous telling, Renaissance medicine comes to life in all its gory and weird splendor.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• brilliance
• grandeur
• luster
• magnificence
• majesty
• pomp
• richness