glorious

English

Etymology

From Middle English glorious, from Anglo-Norman glorius and Old French glorïos, from Latin glōriōsus. Displaced native Middle English wulderful, from Old English wuldorfull (“glorious”), among other terms. Equivalent to glory +‎ -ous.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡlɔː.ɹi.əs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɡlɔɹ.i.əs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ˈɡlɒ.ɹi.əs/
• Rhymes: -ɔːɹiəs

Adjective

glorious (comparative more glorious or gloriouser, superlative most glorious or gloriousest)

1. Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory.

   glorious deeds

   • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 351:

     Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, / The spirit-stirring drum, th’ ear-piercing fife, / The royal banner, and all quality, / Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!

2. Excellent, wonderful; delightful.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. , London: [Samuel Simmons], , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC:

     These are thy glorious works, Parent of good.

   • 2012 August 23, Alasdair Lamont, “Hearts 0-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Borini missed another glorious opportunity to give his side the lead after brilliant set-up play by Sterling, but with only the exposed keeper to beat, he struck the post.

3. Bright or shining;

   Synonyms: splendid, resplendent, bright, shining

   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, ”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies.  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 351:

     And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage / Until the golden circuit on my head, / Like to the glorious sun’s transparent beams, / Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.

4. (obsolete) Eager for glory or distinction
   • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 6:

     [...] but most miserable / Is the desire that’s glorious: blest be those, / How mean soe’er, that have their honest wills, / Which seasons comfort. […]

5. (obsolete) Excessively proud or boastful.

   Synonyms: haughty, boastful, ostentatious, vainglorious

   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First Part , 2nd edition, part 1, London: Richard Iones, , published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act IIII, scene ii:

     Make heauen to frowne and euery fixed ſtarre
     To ſucke vp poiſon from the Mooriſh Fens,
     And poure it in this glorious Tyrants throat.

6. (archaic, colloquial) Ecstatic; hilarious; elated with drink.
   • 1681, [John Dryden], Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem. , 3rd edition, London: J T and are to be sold by W. Davis , published 1682, →OCLC, page 16:

     During his Office, Treaſon was no Crime. / The Sons of Belial had a Glorious Time: / For Shimei, though not prodigal of pelf, / Yet lov'd his wicked Neighbour as himſelf.

   • 1790 (date written; published 1791), Robert Burns, “Tam o’ Shanter. A Tale.”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, 2nd edition, volume II, Edinburgh: T Cadell, , and William Creech, , published 1793, →OCLC, page 198:

     Kings may be bleſt, but Tam was glorious, / O'er a' the ills o' life victorious!

Derived terms

Related terms

• glorify
• glory

Translations

References

Middle English

Alternative forms

• glorius, gloryis, gloryous, gloriose

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman glorius, glorios, glorieus, from Latin glōriōsus; equivalent to glory +‎ -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɡlɔːriˈuːs/, /ˌɡlɔriˈuːs/
• (with reduction) IPA^(key): /ˈɡlɔːrius/, /ˈɡlɔrius/, /-rjus/

Adjective

glorious (comparative gloriousere, superlative gloriosest)

1. Recognised, acclaimed, well-known; having an excellent reputation.
2. Deserving religious recognition or commendation; godly.
3. Marvelous or wonderful to the senses: attractive, pleasing.
4. Amazing, great; possessing quality or a good reputation.
5. (rare) Vain, bragging, self-aggrandising.

Related terms

• gloriously

Descendants

• English: glorious

References

• “glōriǒus, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-10-04.

Old French

Alternative forms

• glorieus, glorios, glorius

Etymology

Latin glōriōsus.

Adjective

glorious m (oblique and nominative feminine singular gloriouse) (Anglo-Norman)

1. glorious
   • 13th century, Unknown, La Vie de Saint Laurent, page 11, column 2, line 2:

     dunc dist Damnedeu glorious

     so, he says glorious God

Declension