Definition of splendour

The word "splendour" comes from the Latin word "splendōrus," which meant "shining" or "brilliant." This root word can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European word "splend-," which similarly denoted brightness or radiance. In Middle English, spelled as both "splendour" and "splendaûr," the word was borrowed from Old French, where it was spelled "esclendor" and similarly meant "glory" or "splendor." In turn, the Old French word had been borrowed from Latin during the Anglo-Saxon period, when Latin-based vocabulary was intentionally integrated into the English language by scholars and Christian scholars in particular. The meaning of "splendour" has carried over into modern English, where it continues to connote grandeur, luxury, and "something that is magnificent, impressive, or striking to see or hear" (Merriam-Webster). It is used to describe anything that exhibits great beauty, richness, and majesty, whether it be a stunning sunset, a luxurious mansion, or a regal court in all its splendor. In print, "splendour" is typically spelled with a double "l," though there have been historical variants, such as "splendour" and "splendaour," both of which are considered obsolete. The spelling we know today has been relatively consistent across British and American English since the late 1700s.