Search the Dictionary

.: Elevated in character, rank, dignity, spirit, bearing, language, etc.; exalted; noble; stately; characterized by pride; haughty. The high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity. Is. lvii. 15. Lofty and sour to them that loved him not. Shak. Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme. Milton.

To move with regular steps, as a soldier; to walk in a grave, deliberate, or stately manner; to advance steadily. Shak.

A magnificent tomb, or stately sepulchral monument.

Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as, a noble edifice.

Loosely, any unusually magnificent or stately house. Palace car. See under Car. -- Palace court, a court having jurisdiction of personal actions arising within twelve miles of the palace at Whitehall. The court was abolished in 1849. [Eng.] Mozley & W.

A stately and formal Spanish dance for which full state costume is worn; -- so called from the resemblance of its movements to those of the peacock. [Written also pavane, paven, pavian, and pavin.]

; the external appearance, stature, figure, air, and the like, of a person. "In personage stately." Hayward. The damsel well did view his personage. Spenser.

In a plaguing manner; vexatiously; extremely. [Colloq.] "Ronsard is so plaguily stiff and stately." Landor.

A stately Polish dance tune, in 3-4 measure, beginning always on the beat with a quaver followed by a crotchet, and closing on the beat after a strong accent on the second beat; also, a dance adapted to such music; a polacca.

Displaying pomp; stately; showy with grandeur; magnificent; as, a pompous procession.

That which is moving onward in an orderly, stately, or solemn manner; a train of persons advancing in order; a ceremonious train; a retinue; as, a procession of mourners; the Lord Mayor's procession. Here comes the townsmen on procession. Shak.

Any large seagoing vessel. Like a stately ship . . . With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails filled, and streamers waving. Milton. Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State! Longfellow.

having compartments and shelves for keeping or displaying articles of table service. At a stately sideboard, by the wine, That fragrant smell diffused. Milton.

eat; especially, a royal seat; a throne. [Obs.] "Upon the very siege of justice." Shak. A stately siege of sovereign majesty, And thereon sat a woman gorgeous gay. Spenser. In our great hall there stood a vacant chair . . . And Merlin called it "The siege perilous." Tennyson.

Stately; ceremonious; grand. [Archaic] His feast so solemn and so rich. Chaucer. To-night we hold a splemn supper. Shak.

Solemn; grand; stately; splendid; magnificent. [Obs.] Chaucer.

very direction; to cause to fill or cover a wide or wider space. Rose, as in a dance, the stately trees, and spread Their branches hung with copious fruit. Milton.

A high, proud, stately step or walk. Thus twice before, . . . With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. Shak. The which with monstrous stalk behind him stepped. Spenser.

Stately. [Obs.] Spenser.

Full of state; stately. [Obs.] "A stateful silence." Marston.