splendid
- Magnificent, impressively beautiful, or excellent in quality.
In a sentence
- The fireworks display was absolutely splendid, lighting up the entire sky.
- She gave a splendid performance that left the audience on their feet.
Usage note. In British English, 'splendid' is sometimes used as a general exclamation of approval (similar to 'excellent!'), which can sound formal or old-fashioned in American English.
Where it comes from
Early Modern English splendid — “magnificent, brilliant” · entered English 17th c.
From Latin 'splendidus,' meaning 'bright, shining, brilliant,' derived from 'splendere,' meaning 'to shine.' The word came into English in the early 17th century, initially describing literal brilliance or brightness before evolving to convey greatness and excellence.