glory
/ˈɡlɔːri/
noun
Origin
Latin
gloria — fame, renown, praise
Overview
Meaning Now
- High renown or honor won by notable achievements.
- Magnificence or great beauty.
- A state of absolute happiness or radiant light, often associated with divine presence.
Literal older meaning
praise, exaltation, or splendor
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
glorie
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The term entered English during the Middle English period, primarily through religious texts describing the 'glory of God.' Over time, the meaning expanded from purely theological contexts to secular concepts of military honor and aesthetic splendor.
Evolution
- Latin
gloria
“fame, renown”
- Old French
glorie
“vainglory, pride, or divine splendor”
- Middle English
glorie
“renown, honor, divine light”
Introduced via church Latin and French
- English
glory
“fame, beauty, splendor”
Connections
Word parts
glory
root
renown or splendor
Related across languages
French
gloire
fame, glory
Spanish
gloria
fame, glory
Italian
gloria
fame, glory
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Related to glory
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.