Lophorina superba

Paradise \Par"a*dise\ (p[a^]r"[.a]*d[imac]s), n. [OE. & F.
   paradis, L. paradisus, fr. Gr. para`deisos park, paradise,
   fr. Zend pairida[=e]za an inclosure; pairi around (akin to
   Gr. peri`) + diz to throw up, pile up; cf. Skr. dih to smear,
   and E. dough. Cf. {Parvis}.]
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   1. The garden of Eden, in which Adam and Eve were placed
      after their creation.
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   2. The abode of sanctified souls after death.
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            To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. --Luke
                                                  xxiii. 43.
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            It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
            Singing in Paradise.                  --Longfellow.
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   3. A place of bliss; a region of supreme felicity or delight;
      hence, a state of happiness.
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            The earth
            Shall be all paradise.                --Milton.
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            Wrapt in the very paradise of some creative vision.
                                                  --Beaconsfield.
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   4. (Arch.) An open space within a monastery or adjoining a
      church, as the space within a cloister, the open court
      before a basilica, etc.
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   5. A churchyard or cemetery. [Obs.] --Oxf. Gloss.
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   {Fool's paradise}. See under {Fool}, and {Limbo}.

   {Grains of paradise}. (Bot.) See {Melequeta pepper}, under
      {Pepper}.

   {Paradise bird}. (Zool.) Same as {Bird of paradise}. Among
      the most beautiful species are the superb ({Lophorina
      superba}); the magnificent ({Diphyllodes magnifica}); and
      the six-shafted paradise bird ({Parotia sefilata}). The
      long-billed paradise birds ({Epimachin[ae]}) also include
      some highly ornamental species, as the twelve-wired
      paradise bird ({Seleucides alba}), which is black, yellow,
      and white, with six long breast feathers on each side,
      ending in long, slender filaments. See {Bird of paradise}
      in the Vocabulary.

   {Paradise fish} (Zool.), a beautiful fresh-water Asiatic fish
      ({Macropodus viridiauratus}) having very large fins. It is
      often kept alive as an ornamental fish.

   {Paradise flycatcher} (Zool.), any flycatcher of the genus
      {Terpsiphone}, having the middle tail feathers extremely
      elongated. The adult male of {Terpsiphone paradisi} is
      white, with the head glossy dark green, and crested.

   {Paradise grackle} (Zool.), a very beautiful bird of New
      Guinea, of the genus {Astrapia}, having dark velvety
      plumage with brilliant metallic tints.

   {Paradise nut} (Bot.), the sapucaia nut. See {Sapucaia nut}.
      [Local, U. S.]

   {Paradise whidah bird}. (Zool.) See {Whidah}.
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Superb \Su*perb"\, a. [F. superbe, L. superbus, fr. super over.
   See {Super-}.]
   1. Grand; magnificent; august; stately; as, a superb edifice;
      a superb colonnade.
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   2. Rich; elegant; as, superb furniture or decorations.
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   3. Showy; excellent; grand; as, a superb exhibition.
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   {Superb paradise bird} (Zool.), a bird of paradise
      ({Paradisaea superba} syn. {Lophorina superba}) having the
      scapulars erectile, and forming a large ornamental tuft on
      each shoulder, and a large gorget of brilliant feathers on
      the breast . The color is deep violet, or nearly black,
      with brilliant green reflections. The gorget is bright
      metallic green.

   {Superb warber}. (Zool.) See {Blue wren}, under {Wren}.
      [1913 Webster] -- {Su*perb"ly}, adv. -- {Su*perb"ness}, n.
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