Word
grandeur
US/ɡɹænˈduɹ/
UK/ɡɹændˈɜː/
Definition
n. the quality of being very large, impressive, or beautiful. It describes things that look expensive, important, or powerful.
n. the quality of being magnificent, splendid, or impressive in appearance or style. Often associated with high social status, historical importance, or vast scale.
Examples
“The old palace still has its former grandeur.”
“Visitors are often overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur of the cathedral's high ceilings and gold decorations.”
“The novel captures the fading grandeur of the aristocratic estate, where peeling wallpaper and dusty portraits serve as reminders of a more prosperous era.”
Examples
simple
“The old palace still has its former grandeur.”
contextual
“Visitors are often overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur of the cathedral's high ceilings and gold decorations.”
complex
“The novel captures the fading grandeur of the aristocratic estate, where peeling wallpaper and dusty portraits serve as reminders of a more prosperous era.”
Usage
Commonly paired with adjectives like 'fading', 'sheer', or 'former'.
Real-World Examples
“Clark magicked these into sensual bias-cut dresses with a freewheeling grandeur that was part Hollywood glamour, part rock’n’roll anarchy.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French grandeur, from Old French grandur, from grant (French grand), from Latin grandis (“grown up, great”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/grandeur