- Grand pensionary
- Grand Grand (gr[a^]nd), a. [Compar. {Grander}
(gr[a^]nd"[~e]r); superl. {Grandest}.] [OE. grant, grount,
OF. grant, F. grand, fr. L. grandis; perh. akin to gravis
heavy, E. grave, a. Cf. {Grandee}.]
1. Of large size or extent; great; extensive; hence,
relatively great; greatest; chief; principal; as, a grand
mountain; a grand army; a grand mistake. ``Our grand foe,
Satan.'' --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Making so bold . . . to unseal Their grand commission. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. Great in size, and fine or imposing in appearance or impression; illustrious, dignifled, or noble (said of persons); majestic, splendid, magnificent, or sublime (said of things); as, a grand monarch; a grand lord; a grand general; a grand view; a grand conception. [1913 Webster]
They are the highest models of expression, the unapproached masters of the grand style. --M. Arnold. [1913 Webster]
3. Having higher rank or more dignity, size, or importance than other persons or things of the same name; as, a grand lodge; a grand vizier; a grand piano, etc. [1913 Webster]
4. Standing in the second or some more remote degree of parentage or descent; -- generalIy used in composition; as, grandfather, grandson, grandchild, etc. [1913 Webster]
What cause Mov'd our grand parents, in that happy state, Favor'd of Heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
{Grand action}, a pianoforte action, used in grand pianos, in which special devices are employed to obtain perfect action of the hammer in striking and leaving the string.
{Grand Army of the Republic}, an organized voluntary association of men who served in the Union army or navy during the civil war in the United States. The order has chapters, called Posts, throughout the country.
{Grand paunch}, a glutton or gourmand. [Obs.] --Holland.
{Grand pensionary}. See under {Pensionary}.
{Grand piano} (Mus.), a large piano, usually harp-shaped, in which the wires or strings are generally triplicated, increasing the power, and all the mechanism is introduced in the most effective manner, regardless of the size of the instrument.
{Grand relief} (Sculp.), alto relievo.
{Grand Seignior}. See under {Seignior}.
{Grand stand}, the principal stand, or erection for spectators, at a, race course, etc.
{Grand vicar} (Eccl.), a principal vicar; an ecclesiastical delegate in France.
{Grand vizier}. See under {Vizier}.
Syn: Magnificent; sublime; majestic; dignified; elevated; stately; august; pompous; lofty; eralted; noble.
Usage: Grand, Magnificent, Sublime. Grand, in reference to objects of taste, is applied to that which expands the mind by a sense of vastness and majesty; magnificent is applied to anything which is imposing from its splendor; sublime describes that which is awful and elevating. A cataract is grand; a rich and varied landscape is magnificent; an overhanging precipice is sublime. ``Grandeur admits of degrees and modifications; but magnificence is that which has already reached the highest degree of superiority naturally belonging to the object in question.'' --Crabb. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
