magnificent English · revision 10366

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=mid-15th century|origins=fro magnificent|origins=la magnificus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mæɡˈnɪfəsənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is late Middle English, from Old French magnificent,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) a back-formation from Latin magnificentior, the comparative of magnificus, great, noble, literally doing great deeds,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) from magnus, great (from PIE *meg-), and the combining form of facere, to make, do.^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Exalted, glorious, great in actions or deeds: the mid-15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the late Middle English period in the SOED.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED's first dated sense, greatness of achievement or conduct befitting high rank, is from 1513.^(OED 1989) Characterized by grandeur or stateliness, living in splendour, is from the 1520s (1526),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and sumptuously built or adorned from before 1540.^(OED 1989) Lavish, on a great scale of expenditure, is from 1579,^(OED 1989) and of language or ideas, imposing, from 1639.^(OED 1989) As an exclamation of enthusiastic admiration it is by 1704.^(Etymonline) ''Magnificent'' also renders the Latin title magnificus of certain officials, such as rectors of universities (1763).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * mid-15th century – great in deeds.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1513 – of lofty conduct.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1526 – stately, splendid.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1540 – sumptuous.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1579 – lavish.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1704 – exclamation of admiration.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Splendid or impressive in appearance; [[grand]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Outstanding of its kind; superb.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Noble or exalted in thought or deed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[magnificently]]

+ * [[magnificentness]]

+ * [[supermagnificent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[magnificence]]

+ * [[beneficent]]

+ * [[maleficent]]

+ * [[munificent]]

+ * [[omnificent]]

+ * [[magnify]]

+ * [[magnitude]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}