a. [a. L. splendent-, splendens, pres. pple. of splendēre to be bright or shining. So It. splendente, -iente, Sp. and Pg. esplendente, OF. esplendent.]
1. Shining brightly by virtue of inherent light.
1474. in Coventry Leet Book (1908), 393. O splendent Creator!… More bryghter then Phebus, excedent all lyght!
1503. Hawes, Examp. Virt., I. 6. Whan the golden sterres clere were splendent.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, X ij b. The same loue whiche giues the Sun his splendent globe, hath giuen the Moone … her horned head.
1605. Tryall Chev., III. iii. in Bullen, O. Pl., III. 314. Like the Sunne in his Meridian Throne, Too splendent for weake eyes to gaze upon.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 233. As is very observable in their red and splendent Planets, that is of Mars and Venus.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, III. ii. 437. Kepler has noted a Splendent Air in the day-time.
1812. Cary, Dante, Parad., IX. 14. Another of those splendent forms approach’d.
1876. J. Ellis, Caesar in Egypt, 120. Their splendent world of light they permeate.
fig. 1609. Ev. Woman in Hum., V. i. in Bullen, O. Pl., IV. 377. Be stars to Firmaments, and, as you are Splendent, so be fixed, not wandering.
b. Of rays, light, etc.
1509. Parl. Deuylles, B iv b. With aungelles to synge in lyght splendent.
c. 1605. Rowley, Birth Merlin, IV. v. Again, behold from the igniferous body Seven splendent and illustrious rays are spread.
1676. Phil. Trans., XI. 744. It will for all this resume a splendent brightness even in the cold water itself. Ibid. (1758), LI. 253. Its light was most surprisingly splendent.
fig. 1614. Jackson, Creed, III. 179. Though cloudes of enuy now may seeme, thy splendent rayes to choake.
1636. Fitz-Geffrey, Holy Transp. (1881), 185. A Starre which though his Orbe be earth,… Yet doth from heauen deriue his splendent light.
a. 1666. Sir G. Wharton, Poems, Wks. (1683), 355. Religion’s outward worth and splendent Rays.
2. Reflecting light with great brilliancy; bright, gleaming, resplendent.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 81. This bowell … in a dogge hath for the most part a more splendent red.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 86. He had on his right side an exceeding splendant white spot. Ibid., 148. The best Grey-hound hath … a neate sharpe head, and splendent eyes.
a. 1635. Randolph, Poems (1638), 30. A splendent buckle in ther maiden zone.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., iv. 28. It is … most dense, uniform, splendent, yellow, and is a most pretious thing.
1814. H. Busk, Fugitive Pieces, 7. Maria … seiz’d the splendent shears.
1826. Faraday, Exp. Res., (1859), 193. By evaporation it gave a splendent white crystalline salt.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., II. 179. Her complexion really was as pure as splendent Parian marble.
b. Extremely brilliant, gorgeous or magnificent.
1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., A vij b. Both godds, and noblemen in splendent vestures gay.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., I. (1879), 39. To think that the Lorde our God is delighted in the splendente shewe of outward apparell.
1635. A. Stafford, Fem. Glory (1860), 7. If the Inne was so splendent, so sumptuous, what may we thinke of the amiable Guest, that lodg’d in it?
1646. G. Daniel, Poems, Wks. (Grosart), I. 66. Now the Horses proud Breath fire, and trample with a furious heat, To hurrie in the Splendent Chariot.
1817. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., X. I. 246. Splendent Thrush…. This most splendid bird is generally admitted to be distinct from the Shining Thrush.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., V. v. I. 575. Long Files of Giants, splendent in gold-lace and grenadier-caps, have succeeded.
3. fig. Having qualities comparable to material brightness or brilliancy; pre-eminently beautiful, grand or great.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., I. (Percy Soc.), 5. The fayre lady excellent, Above all other in cleare beauty splendent.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., xxiv. And lead vs on Tryvmphant through the Port Of Victorye, to Honour’s Splendent Court.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Love & Hon., 17. Th’ Iberian realm Could boast … No race more splendent, and no form so fair.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. II. i. Book-paper, splendent with Theories, Philosophies, Sensibilities.
b. Of qualities, actions, etc.
The first quotation is from a letter given as a ridiculous example of the use of ‘ink-horn terms.’
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 165. Beeyng accersited to suche splendente renowme, and dignitie splendidious.
1599. Broughton’s Lett., vii. 22. The splendent brightnes of the Trueth, which in Christendome burnes still so gloriously.
1615. Daniel, Hymen’s Tri., Ded. By your splendent worthiness Your name shall longer live than shall your walls.
1654. Gataker, Disc. Apol., 97. The splendent lustre of Calvins repute.
1873. M. Collins, Squire Silchester, II. xiii. 158. The splendent genius of … Christopher North.
Hence † Splendently adv. Obs.
1576. Pettie, Petite Pallace, 12 b. Did it not make her glory & virtue show more splendently to the whole world?
1601. Bp. W. Barlow, Defence, 30. So splendently appearing these 60. yeares together.
1613. Jackson, Creed, II. 352. Scripture … shines most splendently, most clearly, like a light.
