glorious

comparative more glorious · comparative gloriouser · superlative most glorious · superlative gloriousest

1. Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory.

   glorious deeds

   1 more example

   Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, / The spirit-stirring drum, th’ ear-piercing fife, / The royal banner, and all quality, / Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], line 351

   Synonyms: admirable, praiseworthy, honoured, illustrious, admirable, allowable, commendable, creditable · Antonyms: gloriless, inglorious, unglorious, fameless, gloriless, inglorious, nameless, nonfamous

2. Excellent, wonderful; delightful.

   These are thy glorious works, Parent of good.

   1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

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   Borini missed another glorious opportunity to give his side the lead after brilliant set-up play by Sterling, but with only the exposed keeper to beat, he struck the post.

   2012 August 23, Alasdair Lamont, “Hearts 0-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport

   Synonyms: fabulous, sensational, splendid, amazing, astounding, awe-inspiring, awesome, awful

3. Bright or shining;

   And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage / Until the golden circuit on my head, / Like to the glorious sun’s transparent beams, / Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], line 351

   Synonyms: splendid, resplendent, bright, shining, aglow, alight, beamful, beamsome

4. obsoleteEager for glory or distinction

   [...] but most miserable / Is the desire that’s glorious: blest be those, / How mean soe’er, that have their honest wills, / Which seasons comfort. […]

   1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi], line 6

5. obsoleteExcessively proud or boastful.

   Make heauen to frowne and euery fixed ſtarre To ſucke vp poiſon from the Mooriſh Fens, And poure it in this glorious Tyrants throat.

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act IIII, scene ii

   Synonyms: haughty, boastful, ostentatious, vainglorious, airy, arrogant, chesty, authoritarian

6. archaiccolloquialEcstatic; hilarious; elated with drink.

   Kings may be bleſt, but Tam was glorious, / O'er a' the ills o' life victorious!

   1790 (date written; published 1791), Robert Burns, “Tam o’ Shanter. A Tale.”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, 2nd edition, volume II, Edinburgh: […] T[homas] Cadell, […], and William Creech, […], published 1793, →OCLC, page 198

   1 more example

   During his Office, Treaſon vvas no Crime. / The Sons of Belial had a Glorious Time: / For Shimei, though not prodigal of pelf, / Yet lov'd his vvicked Neighbour as himſelf.

   1681, [John Dryden], Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem, London: […] J[acob] T[onson] and are to be sold by W. Davis […], →OCLC, page 19

   Synonyms: merry