Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Brilliant with light or color; radiant.
  • adjective Imposing by reason of showiness or grandeur; magnificent.
  • adjective Admired by many; illustrious.
  • adjective Admirable for boldness or purity; surpassing.
  • adjective Very good or satisfying; praiseworthy.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Shining; brilliant; specifically, in entomology, having brilliant metallic colors; splendent.
  • Brilliant; dazzling; gorgeous; sumptuous: as, a splendid palace; a splendid procession.
  • Conspicuous; illustrious; grand; heroic; brilliant; noble; glorious: as, a splendid victory; a splendid reputation.
  • Very fine; excellent; extremely good: as, a splendid chance to make a fortune.
  • Synonyms Magnificent, Superb, etc. See grand.
  • Eminent, remarkable, distinguished, famous.

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

  • adjective Possessing or displaying splendor; shining; very bright.
  • adjective Showy; magnificent; sumptuous; pompous
  • adjective Illustrious; heroic; brilliant; celebrated; famous.

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

  • adjective Possessing or displaying splendor; shining; very bright; as, a splendid sun.
  • adjective Showy; magnificent; sumptuous; pompous; as, a splendid palace; a splendid procession or pageant.
  • adjective Illustrious; heroic; brilliant; celebrated; famous; as, a splendid victory or reputation.

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

  • adjective having great beauty and splendor
  • adjective characterized by grandeur
  • adjective very good;of the highest quality

Etymologies

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

[Latin splendidus, from splendēre, to shine.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin splendidus, from splendere (“to shine”) +‎ -idus (“adjective forming suffix”).

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Examples

  • That was as splendid as this, but it wasn't as _splendid_ splendid.

    Miss Theodosia's Heartstrings Annie Hamilton Donnell

  • Oh, isn't it splendid, _splendid_! that papa will get well! "

    We Ten Or, The Story of the Roses Barbara Yechton 1901

  • Interestingly enough, it was a Canadian who coined the phrase "splendid isolation."

    Can Britain Really Prosper 'Unfettered' by the EU? 2011

  • That's what I call splendid behavior; that's a man worthy to be called a gentleman.

    The Diamond Coterie Lawrence L. Lynch

  • I think that he, too, has been deluded by what you call my splendid semblance.

    The Tyranny of Weakness Charles Neville Buck 1904

  • I was twenty-one years old, and in splendid physical condition.

    Chapter 25 2010

  • A cold drizzle was falling, but he bared his head to it and unbuttoned his vest, swinging along in splendid unconcern.

    Chapter 3 2010

  • The good thing about dealing with a crime here is the excellent CCTV system, with sharp images and all in splendid colour.

    The Police Guide To Ruraltown « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009

  • It is a youth who dares be radical, who dares, in splendid largess, build mistake upon mistake, bleeding his life out in service.

    The Kempton-Wace Letters 2010

  • Though in splendid physical trim, a thirty-six-hour trick at the wheel was the limit of my endurance.

    Chapter 39 2010

Comments

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  • What a splendid word this is!

    October 8, 2007

  • Absolutely splendid chaps.

    February 17, 2012