Princely

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɪnsli/

Definitions

1. Befitting or characteristic of a monarch or person of royal rank, especially in terms of generosity, magnificence, or impressive scale
2. Relating to or resembling a sovereign in terms of attributes like nobility, generosity, or grandeur
3. Characteristic of a ruler, particularly reflecting traits such as lavishness, nobility, or a grand demeanor

Etymology: "Princely" is a plain formation: the noun "prince" with the suffix "-ly", which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "characteristic of" or "like" the thing named. The suffix came into English from Old English "-lic", later "-ly", and the adjective appeared in Middle English as "princely" or "pryncely". Dutch has an equivalent, "prinselijk", built the same way. The noun behind it, "prince", was borrowed into English from Old French "prince", which descends from Latin "princeps", literally "first" or "chief" (from "primus", first, and "capere", to take). So "princely" carries that older sense of being foremost, though in English it settled firmly on the sense of royal rank and its manner.

Synonyms: royal, noble, regal, magnificent, grand

Antonyms: common, ordinary, humble, lowly, insignificant