"great" Definition

Definitions for the word "great" from multiple English dictionaries.

1. superl.
Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous; expanded; -- opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance, length.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. superl.
Large in number; numerous; as, a great company, multitude, series, etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. superl.
Long continued; lengthened in duration; prolonged in time; as, a great while; a great interval.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. superl.
Superior; admirable; commanding; -- applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. superl.
Endowed with extraordinary powers; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; strong; powerful; mighty; noble; as, a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. superl.
Holding a chief position; elevated: lofty: eminent; distingushed; foremost; principal; as, great men; the great seal; the great marshal, etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. superl.
Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. superl.
Pregnant; big (with young).
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. superl.
More than ordinary in degree; very considerable in degree; as, to use great caution; to be in great pain.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. superl.
Older, younger, or more remote, by single generation; -- often used before grand to indicate one degree more remote in the direct line of descent; as, great-grandfather (a grandfather's or a grandmother's father), great-grandson, etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. n.
The whole; the gross; as, a contract to build a ship by the great.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. adj.
1 a of a size, amount, extent, or intensity considerably above the normal or average (a great hole; great fun). B also with implied admiration, contempt, etc., esp. In exclamations (you great idiot!; great stuff!). C reinforcing other words denoting size, quantity, etc. (great big hole). 2 important, pre-eminent (the great thing is not to get caught). 3 grand, imposing (great occasion). 4 distinguished. 5 remarkable in ability, character, etc. (great men; great thinker). 6 (foll. By at, on) competent, well-informed. 7 fully deserving the name of; doing a thing extensively (great reader; great believer in tolerance). 8 (also greater) the larger of the name, species, etc. (great auk; greater celandine). 9 colloq. Very enjoyable or satisfactory (had a great time). 10 (in comb.) (in names of family relationships) denoting one degree further removed upwards or downwards (great-uncle; great-great-grandmother). n. 1 great or outstanding person or thing. 2 (in pl.) (greats) colloq. (at oxford university) honours course or final examinations in classics and philosophy. greatness n. [old english]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884

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This page provides a list of definitions and meanings for "great" from various historical English dictionaries. By displaying multiple definitions, you can compare and contrast different meanings and nuances of a word, phrase, or slang. You can also see the changes in meaning of "great" over time by viewing the definitions from different dictionaries published at different times in history. The page also includes other information to help users expand their vocabulary and understand the context of the word.

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