splendor

Splendor is a noun describing magnificent brightness or scale, a quality of great beauty, brilliance, or grandeur. It can refer to the impressive appearance of objects or places, such as a cathedral’s facade, a ceremonial procession, a work of art, or the natural splendor of a landscape. The term often conveys a sense of awe or celebration, and may be used metaphorically to describe performance, ideas, or achievements presented with impressive flourish.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French splendeur, from Latin splendor, meaning brightness; in modern English, spelling variants include splendor (American English) and splendour (British English).

Usage: Splendor commonly appears in literary descriptions and formal or elevated prose. It can describe material richness, color, light, or scale, and is frequently paired with adjectives such as royal, celestial, or resplendent.

In popular culture: Splendor is the title of a widely played contemporary board game (2014) designed by Marc André. In the game, players collect gemstones and acquire development cards to score prestige points, evoking the theme of wealth and display associated with splendor.

See also: magnificence, grandeur, resplendence.