different between superb vs glorious

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin superbus.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /su?p?b/, /s??p?b/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sju??p??b/, /su??p??b/
• Rhymes: -??(?)b
• Hyphenation: su?perb

Adjective

superb (comparative superber, superlative superbest)

1. First-rate; of the highest quality; exceptionally good.

   • Captain Edward Carlisle […] felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, […]; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.

2. Grand; magnificent; august; stately.

3. (dated) Haughty.
   • 1858, Julia Kavanagh, Adèle, a Tale: Volume 2 (p.235):

     A remark which Isabella received with a superb curl of the lip, but at the same time, and to her brother's infinite relief, she walked away.

Synonyms

• excellent
• superlative

Derived terms

• superbly

Translations

Anagrams

• BUPERS, Repubs

German

Alternative forms

• süperb

Etymology

Borrowed from French superbe, from Latin superbus.

Pronunciation

Adjective

superb (not comparable)

1. superb

Declension

Further reading

• “superb” in Duden online

Romanian

Etymology

From French superbe, from Latin superbus.

Adjective

superb m or n (feminine singular superb?, masculine plural superbi, feminine and neuter plural superbe)

1. superb

Declension

English

Etymology

From Middle English glorious, from Anglo-Norman glorius and Old French glorïos, from Latin gl?ri?sus. Displaced native Middle English wulderful, from Old English wuldorfull (“glorious”), among other terms. Equivalent to glory +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??l??.?i.?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??l??.i.?s/
• Rhymes: -???i?s

Adjective

glorious (comparative more glorious or gloriouser, superlative most glorious or gloriousest)

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

   glorious deeds

   • 1604, William Shakespeare, Othello, Act III, Scene III, line 351:

     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!

2. Excellent, wonderful; delightful.
   • 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.

3. Bright or shining;

   Synonyms: splendid, resplendent, bright, shining

   • 1590, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part II, Act III, Scene I, line 351

     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.

4. (obsolete) Eager for glory or distinction

   Synonyms: haughty, boastful, ostentatious, vainglorious

   • 1609, William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, Act I, Scene VI, line 6:

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

5. (archaic, colloquial) Ecstatic; hilarious; elated with drink.

   • [...] kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious, O’er all the ills of life victorious.

Derived terms

• gloriousness

Related terms

• glorify
• glory

Translations

Middle English

Alternative forms

• glorius, gloryis, gloryous, gloriose

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman glorius, glorios, glorieus, from Latin gl?ri?sus; equivalent to glory +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??l??riu?s/, /??l??rju?s/, /??l??rius/, /??l??ri?s/

Adjective

glorious (comparative gloriousere, superlative gloriosest)

1. Recognised, acclaimed, well-known; having an excellent reputation.
2. Deserving religious recognition or commendation; godly.
3. Marvelous or wonderful to the senses: attractive, pleasing.
4. Amazing, great; bearing good quality or reputation.
5. (rare) Vain, bragging, self-aggrandising.

Related terms

• gloriously

Descendants

• English: glorious

References

• “gl?ri?us, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-10-04.

Old French

Alternative forms

• glorieus, glorios, glorius

Etymology

Latin gl?ri?sus.

Adjective

glorious m (oblique and nominative feminine singular gloriouse) (Anglo-Norman)

1. glorious

Declension