Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A glory.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun rare An aureole.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun halo

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from Latin glōriola, diminutive of glōria, glory.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin gloriola.

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Examples

  • The triangular composition of the high altar refers to the Trinity and culminates in the gloriole with God the Father and the Dove of the Holy Spirit above the globe.

    Catholic Bamberg: The Church of St. Getreu 2009

  • Another representation of the Most Holy Trinity is formed by the image of God the Father - most prominent above the high altar - and the images of God the Son above the Northern and God the Holy Spirit above the Southern side altar, each also in a triangular gloriole (cf. the third picture from the top).

    Catholic Bamberg: The Church of St. Getreu 2009

  • Shoppers, like me, flocked to the stall, charmed by the man in the garlic gloriole, whose sunny disposition seemed fueled by the alliaceous aura above.

    French Word-A-Day: 2007

  • That thought never enters the gloriole enshrouded sainted heads of the leaders at the Diocese of Niagara.

    2008 November « Anglican Samizdat 2008

  • If they darkened the sun in heaven, they clothed it with the strong colours of sunrise in garment or gloriole; if they had given men stones for bread, the stones were carved with kindly faces and fascinating tales.

    The Crimes of England 1905

  • It is terribly cold to be for the future labouring only for the _gloriole_, after flattering oneself for a while that one was working for the public weal. '

    Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 2 of 3) Essay 3: Condorcet John Morley 1880

  • A great German historian, Gervinus, has said: "He was the greatest benefactor of Germany who removed the gloriole from the heads crowned by the grace of God."

    Napoleon's Campaign in Russia Anno 1812 Achilles Rose 1877

  • One served to explain the virtue most familiar to him -- _bienfaisance_; and that irritable vanity which magnifies its ephemeral fame, the sage reduced to a mortifying diminutive -- _la gloriole!

    Literary Character of Men of Genius Drawn from Their Own Feelings and Confessions Isaac Disraeli 1807

  • Another representation of the Most Holy Trinity is formed by the image of God the Father - most prominent above the high altar - and the images of God the Son above the Northern and God the Holy Spirit above the Southern side altar, each also in a triangular gloriole (cf. the third picture from the top).

    New Liturgical Movement 2009

  • The triangular composition of the high altar refers to the Trinity and culminates in the gloriole with God the Father and the Dove of the Holy Spirit above the globe.

    New Liturgical Movement 2009

Comments

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  • The painter of portraits perceived

    His subject’s most evident need

    So gave the sorry soul

    A golden gloriole,

    Which Donald thought fitting indeed.

    February 12, 2019