majesty

[ maj-uh-stee ]

noun

, plural maj·es·ties.

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, or your ):

   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

“I sovereign, Lidia Thorpe, do solemnly and sincerely swear that I will be faithful and I bear true allegiance to the colonising her majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” she said, as she was being sworn in.

From BBC

Apparently, word of the autumn majesty in this remote mountain paradise has spread far and wide.

From Los Angeles Times

Any argument against using their baseball unicorn in relief can be countered by those same three words, a phrase which this summer has come to symbolize magic and majesty and moonstruck possibility.

From Los Angeles Times

"I would take it away. It doesn’t do anything in memory for her majesty so definitely I would remove it."

From BBC

LPs gave artists room to expand and explore — 23 minutes of the Grateful Dead’s “Dark Star,” for example, whose majesty was not unrelated to its length.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• greatness