majesty

[maj-uh-stee]

noun

plural

majesties 

1. regal, lofty, or stately dignity; imposing character; grandeur.

   majesty of bearing; the majesty of Chartres.

2. supreme greatness or authority; sovereignty.

   All paid tribute to the majesty of Rome.

3. (usually initial capital letter),  a title used when speaking of or to a sovereign (usually preceded by his, her, oryour ).

   His Majesty's Navy; Will your Majesty hear our petitions?

4. a royal personage, or royal personages collectively.

   The royal wedding was attended by the majesties of Europe.

5. Christ in Majesty, a representation of Christ as ruler of the universe.

majesty

¹

/ ˈmædʒɪstɪ /

noun

1. great dignity of bearing; loftiness; grandeur

2. supreme power or authority

3. an archaic word for royalty

Majesty

²

/ ˈmædʒɪstɪ /

noun

1. (preceded by Your, His, Her, or Their ) a title used to address or refer to a sovereign or the wife or widow of a sovereign

Word History and Origins

Origin of majesty¹

1250–1300; Middle English majeste < Middle French < Latin majestāt- (stem of majestās ) dignity, grandeur, equivalent to majes- (akin to majus < *mag-yos, neuter comparative of magnus large; major ) + -tāt- -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of majesty¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin mājestās; related to Latin major, comparative of magnus great

Example Sentences

As I watched the majesty and uniqueness of “The Open” golf championship, my thoughts were of the man who saved this masterpiece of golf from becoming irrelevant.

From Los Angeles Times

"There was a magic and majesty to it," he says, calling it an "absolute exclamation mark of who we are in this part of the world".

From BBC

Superman fights for the people on the Great Plains as much as he does those in the coastal cities, and Reeve’s interpretation is purple mountain majesty all the way.

From Salon

More admired than beloved, the show has extended an open challenge to theater artists drawn to the sophisticated majesty of Brown’s Tony-winning score but daunted by the expansive scope of Uhry’s Tony-winning book.

From Los Angeles Times

I camped for four nights at an established campground, and although I saw tremendous beauty, I felt like I saw only a glimpse of the majesty that awaits Trinity Alps visitors.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• greatness