grandiose

Forms

grandiose (plural grandioses)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian grandioso (“imposing in its grandeur”),^[2][3][4][1] recorded in Italian from the 17th century and formed from grande (“great”) on the model of glorioso (“glorious”).^[2] The Italian adjective goes back to Latin grandis, the source of French grand.^[3][5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adjective is first recorded in 1798, in the fine-arts volumes of the Encyclopédie méthodique, of something imposing by its grandeur.^[2][6] The noun grandiosité, after Italian grandiosità, is found earlier, in 1787, so the adjective was probably in use before 1798.^[2][4][3]

Semantic evolution

At first the word was mostly used as a masculine noun, “the grandiose” (1804).^[3][5] As an adjective it is formal in style but fairly common, like many intensives such as sublime; the adverb grandiosement (1852) is very literary.^[3]

Timeline

• 17th century – Italian grandioso is recorded.^[2][3]
• 1787 – Grandiosité appears in Lairesse's Grand Livre des peintres.^[2]
• 1798 – The Encyclopédie méthodique records grandiose.^[2][6]
• 1804 – Used as a masculine noun.^[3]
• 1852 – The adverb grandiosement is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Striking by its grandeur, its size or its majesty; imposing, magnificent: un panorama grandiose.^[7][2][8]

Noun

1. (masculine) Grandiose character, grandeur.^[7][8]

Word family

• grandiosement

Related words

• grand
• Italian grandioso
• Latin grandis

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette