Forms: 4–7 triumphe, tryumphe, (5 treyumphe, trihumphe, triumphee, 6 triump, tryhumphe, tryoumffe, Sc. trywmph, trieumph, treumph(e, trewmph), 6–7 tryumph, 6– triumph. [ME. a. OF. triumphe (12th c.), F. triomphe, = Prov. triomfe, Sp. triunfo, Pg. triumpho, It. trionfo, ad. L. triumph-us (older form triumpus); cf. Gr. θρίαμβος hymn to Bacchus.]
1. Rom. Hist. The entrance of a victorious commanader with his army and spoils in solemn procession into Rome, permission for which was granted by the senate in honor of an important achievement in war. Also transf.
[c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., II. iv. § 2. Heora an consul … forsoc þone triumphan [L. triumphum], þe him mon onʓean brohte.]
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 43. With his tryumphe and laurer corovned thus … Let I this noble prince Theseus Towarde Athenes in his wey ryding.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xlviii. (Tollem. MS.). The lauri tre is propirly halowed to triumphes, worshipe of victoures.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 25. Where is Julius, proudest in his empire, With his triumphes moost imperiall?
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. iv. 99. What was I borne to this: that my sad looke, Should grace the Triumph of great Bullingbrooke?
1600. Holland, Livy, III. lxiii. 131. This was the first time that ever any triumph was granted by the voices of the people, without the authoritie and assent of the Senatours.
1703. Rowe, Ulyss., I. i. Where is the Triumph shall go forth to meet him?
1838–42. Arnold, Hist. Rome, III. xlvi. 321. Marcellus was anxious to obtain a triumph for his conquest of Syracuse.
† b. transf. in the ‘philosopher’s game.’ Obs.
c. 1600. MS. Sloane 451, lf. 1. In it men fight and striue together by the art of comptynge … whether may (the enimies kinge beinge taken) erect a triumphe in his aduersaries campe. Ibid., 1 b. You may make your triumphe, as well of your enimies men taken as of your owne vntaken.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., IV. ii. (1876), 415. It is … certain that the great object of each player is to take the king from his opponent, because he who succeeds may make his triumph and erect his trophy.
2. transf. The action or fact of triumphing; victory, conquest, or the glory of this; also, a signal success or achievement. Also fig.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 913. Of the treyumphe he bare the flour In dispite of Mahounde.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 3213. He … hadde of folkes dethes suche pitee, That … Al his tryumphe was to hym but peyne.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Visitation of Sick. That thou mayest haue perfit victory and triumph against the deuil, sinne, and death.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 59. For vs he sched his precious blude, With greit tryumph vpon the rude.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 119. Like a naked table wherein nothing is painted: euen so is Thebes and her past tryumphs defac’d.
1735. Pope, Ep. Lady, 225. Wisdom’s triumph is well-tim’d Retreat.
a. 1835. Sir D. Sandford, Rise & Progr. Lit. (1847), 40. Of that airy and extravagant spirit … the Attic comedy, in its first estate, was at once the triumph and the type.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), II. I. iv. 191. It was the triumph of civilization over brute force.
† b. transf. The subject of triumph. Obs. rare.
1671. Milton, Samson, 426. Our Foes Found soon occasion thereby to make thee Thir Captive, and thir triumph.
† 3. Pomp, as of the procession described in 1; splendor; glory; magnificence.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., lxix. 47. After whiche victory … the sayd Constantyne … was receyued of the Senate with moost triumphe.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages, 6. With all triumph hir funerall seruice Was dewlie done.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1312. This day to Dagon is a solemn Feast, With Sacrifices, Triumph, Pomp, and Games.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 68, ¶ 9. This Ceremony is not performed … with the usual Pomp and Triumph.
† 4. A public festivity or joyful celebration; a spectacle or pageant; esp. a tournament. Obs.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), p. xli. At the same triumphe the Kinge made lvii Knightis.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 682. When publique playes or open triumphes should be shewed, or set forth abrode in the stretes.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. ii. 52. What newes from Oxford? Hold those Iusts & Triumphs?
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 290. Many Chambers full of Masking garments, and other abiliments for triumphs and pastimes both for Land and Water.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 276. The River Nile … advances moderately, not doing any dammage: and when it comes they make a generall triumph.
a. 1721. Prior, Ode on Coronation, iv. His Peoples blessings greater than his own, And he that gives the Triumph triumphs least.
1825. Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 1446. The printed descriptions of these processions [Lord Mayor’s show] are usually entitled ‘Triumphs.’
[1903. Edin. Rev., April, 459. Every event in life was made a pretext for fêtes, processions, and ‘triumphs.’]
5. The exultation of victory or success; elation; joy; rapturous delight.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. xxviii. 71. That the rest of the Fleete shoulde weye their Ankors, the which … they did begin with great diligence and triumph that the Marriners made.
1604. R. Cawdrey, Table Alph., Triumph, great ioy outwardly shewed.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 180. Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav’n When such was heard declar’d the Almightie’s will.
1761. Gray, Fatal Sisters, 54. Songs of joy and triumph sing!
1891. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, II. 57. There was triumph on his countenance.
b. In triumph, triumphant, rejoicing in victory or success; triumphantly. (Orig. fig. from 1.)
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. iii. 18. Let thy dauntlesse minde still ride in triumph, Ouer all mischance.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 537. To see In Triumph issuing forth thir glorious Chief.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 15. I, first of Romans shall in Triumph come From conquer’d Greece, and bring her Trophies home.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xix. Hail to the chief who in triumph advances!
c. To ride triumph, to ride at full tilt. ? Obs.
1761. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, IV. xvi. To have so many jarring elements breaking loose, and riding triumph in every corner of a gentleman’s house.
† 6. a. A trumpet blast of victory. b. pl. Shouts of triumph or exultation. Obs.
1566. T. Stapleton, Ret. Untr. Jewel, Epistle. It is to blowe the Triumphe before the Victory.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., I. Wks. 1856, I. 10. Hark how Piero’s triumphs beat the ayre.
1704. J. Trapp, Abra-Mulé, V. i. The loud Triumphs of the shouting Soldiers.
† 7. A triumphal arch. Also transf. Obs. rare.
1644. Evelyn, Diary, 7 Nov. The people were now generally busye in erecting temporary triumphs and arches with statues and flattering inscriptions.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. lxxix. (1674), 107. Triumphs, Trophies, Statues, and such like things, which are so familiarly seen built in your Streets.
1658. Hist. Christina Q. Swedland, 319. The triumphs or statues of Sugar with which they had adorned the table.
† 8. Cards. a. = TRUMP sb.2 1. Obs.
1529. Latimer, 1st Serm. Card, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1300/2. The game that wee wyll playe at, shall bee called the triumphe…. Lette therefore euery Christian manne and woman playe at these cardes, that they maye haue and obteyne the triumph; you must marke also that the triumphe muste apply to fetche home into hym all the other cardes, whatsoeuer sute they bee of.
1598. Florio, Gérmini,… a kinde of playing-cards which we call terrestriall triumphs.
[1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. xiv. 20. Shee … has Packt Cards with Cæsars, and false plaid my Glory Vnto an Enemies triumph.]
† b. An obsolete card-game; = TRUMP sb.2 1 b.
1529. [see 8 a].
1554. Interlude Youth, C iv. At the cardes I can theche you to play, At the triump [ed. 1561 triumph], and one and thyrtye.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, viii. (1596), 112. Playing at Cent, and at Triumph.
1626. trans. Boccalini’s New-found Politicke, III. xiii. (heading), A Poetaster for playing at Cards, and deuising the Game called Triumph or Trump, is brought before Apollo.
9. attrib. and Comb., as triumph-bough, -day, -hour, -path, -robe, -salute, -song, -tear, -tune, -wise; triumph-decking adj.; also † triumph-church, the Church triumphant; triumph-gate, the gate through which a triumphing general entered Rome; in quot. transf.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Sad Sheph., I. ii. [Why should not] each of us cut down a *triumph-bough?
c. 1620. in Farr, S. P. Jas. I. (1847), 318. Shyne bright in the *Triumph Church, faire soule, That in the Militant has shyn’d so longe.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. ii. 66. For gay apparell gainst the *triumph day.
1827. Pollok, Course T., X. 109. Great triumph-day of God’s Incarnate Son.
1646. Sir R. Fanshaw, trans. Guarino’s Faithf. Sheph., IV. iv. 165. Ye *triumph-decking Lawrell boughs, Empale my glorious and victorious brows.
1880. G. Meredith, Tragic Com. (1881), 143. This handsome, undaunted, *triumph-flashing man.
1848. Eliza Cook, Old Palace, i. Its *triumph-gates were flinging wide.
1892. R. F. Towndrow, Garden, etc. 65.
| The elms are clad in *triumph-robes of gold, | |
| And orchards glowing in autumnal blaze, | |
| Lifted from Earth to Heaven through dark’ning days | |
| Flushed with a flame which they alone behold. |
1844. Regul. & Ord. Army, 37. The forts and batteries from which *triumph Salutes are usually fired.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 154 b. The voyces of the glade and ioyfull sort, singing true and eternall *triumph-songes in heauen.
c. 1586. Sidney, Ps. LXVI. i. All lands … With *triumph tunes Gods honor sound.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., IV. (1593), 95. In *triumph-wise accomplishing her hest.
