Grandest

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.
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            Making so bold . . . to unseal
            Their grand commission.               --Shak.
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   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.
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            They are the highest models of expression, the
            unapproached
            masters of the grand style.           --M. Arnold.
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   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.
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   4. Standing in the second or some more remote degree of
      parentage or descent; -- generalIy used in composition;
      as, grandfather, grandson, grandchild, etc.
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            What cause
            Mov'd our grand parents, in that happy state,
            Favor'd of Heaven so highly, to fall off
            From their Creator.                   --Milton.
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   {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.
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