gorgeous English · revision 2196

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɡɔːd͡ʒəs/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɡoɹd͡ʒəs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|gorgeouse]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[bor|frm|gorgias|t=elegant, fashionable]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) a word of uncertain origin,^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) perhaps from ''gorgias'' “necklace, wimple”^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) and so from Old French ''gorge'' “throat”.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Etymonline also mentions a proposed link with the Greek sophist Gorgias.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of people, with reference to dress: sumptuously adorned, showy, splendid (c1495).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word first described showy clothing and the people wearing it,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and then (1533) splendid things and colours,^(OED 1989) and (1561) dazzling language.^(OED 1989) From 1883 it was used colloquially as a general term of strong approval,^(OED 1989) and today it usually means very beautiful or simply delightful.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1495 – of people, sumptuously dressed.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1533 – of things, splendid, magnificent.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1561 – of style, dazzling.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1883 – ''(colloquial)'' wonderful, splendid.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Dazzlingly beautiful or magnificent.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(informal)'' Wonderful; extremely enjoyable or pleasant.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gorgeously]]

+ * [[gorgeousness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gorge]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}