resplendent

• resplendant (obsolete)

From the obsolete sense of the English verb splendish (“to shine”), from Latin splendere (“to shine”), or from resplend +‎ -ent, from Latin resplendere (“to shine back, glitter”).

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈsplɛn.dənt/

• Audio (Southern England):

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resplendent (comparative more resplendent, superlative most resplendent)

1. Shining brilliantly; gleaming; radiant.

   The resplendent sun rose over the horizon.

   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:

     The resplendent sun / Shone forth in all his glory.

2. Shiny and colorful, and thus pleasing to the eye; splendid in appearance.

   Synonyms: refulgent, brilliant, dazzling, gorgeous

   The peacock displayed its resplendent plumage.

   • 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:

     Soon after the arrival of Mrs. Campbell, dinner was announced by Abboye. He came into the drawing room resplendent in his gold-and-white turban. […] His cummerbund matched the turban in gold lines.

   • 2024 October 31, Ari Daniel, “How parrot plumage gets its dazzling reds and yellows”, in NPR:

     Some birds are feathered tufts of color so resplendent that they stand out brilliantly from their surroundings.

3. (figurative) Magnificent; glorious; splendid; marked by extraordinary excellence or beauty.

   The queen appeared in resplendent majesty.

   They celebrated their resplendent victory.

   His career was resplendent with achievements.

   • 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England:

     The resplendent achievements of the English navy.

4. (mathematics) Exhibiting the property of resplendency in Peano arithmetic.

• Often used in formal or literary contexts to convey exceptional brilliance or magnificence, whether literal (visual splendor) or figurative (outstanding achievement, noble character, etc.).
• Commonly paired with prepositions in (resplendent in robes) or with (resplendent with jewels).

• resplendid (misconstruction)