splendor

[ splen-der ]

/ ˈsplɛn dər /

noun

brilliant or gorgeous appearance, coloring, etc.; magnificence: the splendor of the palace.

an instance or display of imposing pomp or grandeur: the splendor of the coronation.

grandeur; glory; brilliant distinction: the splendor of ancient Greek architecture.

great brightness; brilliant light or luster.

verb (used with object)

to make splendid by decorating lavishly; adorn.

verb (used without object)

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

Nearby words

splen-, splenalgia, splendent, splendid, splendiferous, splendor, splendour, splenectomy, splenectopia, splenetic, splenic

Also especially British, splen·dour.

Origin of splendor

1400–50; < Latin splendor, equivalent to splend(ēre) to shine + -or -or¹; replacing late Middle English splendure < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

SYNONYMS FOR splendor

1 show, dash.

3 fame, eminence, renown, celebrity.

4 dazzle, refulgence.

ANTONYMS FOR splendor

1 squalor.

Related forms

splen·dor·ous, splen·drous

[splen-druhs] /ˈsplɛn drəs/, adjectiveout·splen·dor, verb (used with object)un·splen·dor·ous, adjectiveun·splen·dor·ous·ly, adverb

Can be confused

splendid splendorous

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

Examples from the Web for splendour

Ismar, wishing to give his body a splendid funeral, prepared a banquet of royal bounty to increase the splendour of the obsequies.
The Danish History, Books I-IX|Saxo Grammaticus ("Saxo the Learned")
Nothing in nature can exceed in splendour the plumage of the sugar-bird.
The Giraffe Hunters|Mayne Reid
But they are bursting with glorious song, because of their sense of the splendour of God.
The Potter and the Clay|Arthur F. Winnington Ingram
Such was the wealth, the splendour, and luxury of the proud city of Goa—the Empress of the East at the time we are now describing.
The Phantom Ship|Frederick Marryat

Every kind of splendour seemed to mingle there, forming a strange sort of twilight.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo

British Dictionary definitions for splendour

splendour

US splendor

/ (ˈsplɛndə) /

noun

the state or quality of being splendid

sun in splendour heraldry a representation of the sun with rays and a human face

Derived Forms

splendorous or splendrous (ˈsplɛndrəs), adjective

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