In the late Middle Ages many women wore a type of headdress—called a wimple in English—that surrounded the neck and head, leaving only the face uncovered. The word gorgias, from gorge, meaning “throat,” was the French name for the part of the headdress that covered the throat and shoulders. In time it also came to be used as a name for the entire garment. A beautiful headdress was so much the mark of a fashionable lady that Gorgias then became an adjective meaning “elegant” or “fond of dress.” Borrowed into English as gorgayse and then gorgeous, the word gradually took on the meaning of “beautiful” that it has today.
splendid implies outshining the usual or customary.
the wedding was a splendid occasion
resplendent suggests a glowing or blazing splendor.
resplendent in her jewelry
gorgeous implies a rich splendor especially in display of color.
a gorgeous red dress
glorious suggests radiance that heightens beauty or distinction.
a glorious sunset
sublime implies an exaltation or elevation almost beyond human comprehension.
a vision of sublime beauty
superb suggests an excellence reaching the highest conceivable degree.
her singing was superb
Examples of gorgeous in a Sentence
The difference in appearance can be dramatic, as I saw on a visit to the small, modern factory where Pineider prints its stationery, in a gorgeous part of Tuscany near Florence and bordering Chianti.—Corby Kummer, Atlantic, May 2001In the Arlberg … my wife and I were taken to the most perfect dinner by an elderly Viennese couple and their gorgeous young daughter, whom we had met in Washington.—Geoffrey Wolff, Granta, Autumn 1990Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes.—L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 1900
Your baby is absolutely gorgeous!
sunsets in Hawaii are just gorgeous
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The Hubble Space Telescope has sent back a gorgeous new view of one of our nearest galactic neighbors, which is full of bright, colorful stars.—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Great little character moments, pockets of humor (Parker Posey to the rescue) and gorgeous cinematography, sets, and a location to die for (or in, as the case may be).—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Comments The White Lotus, Mike White’s Emmy-winning HBO series, offers many pleasures, from sharp writing and gorgeous locations to some of the best ensembles on TV.—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2025 If so, Heesen’s new 180-foot Project Agnetha, with a gorgeous interior by Italian designer Luca Dini, should float your boat.—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gorgeous
Word History
Etymology
Middle English gorgeouse, from Middle French gorgias elegant, perhaps from gorgias wimple, from gorge throat
Middle English gorgeouse "very showy, splendid," from early French gorgias "elegant," from gorgias "headdress, wimple," from gorge "part of the wimple covering the throat, throat"
Word Origin
In the late Middle Ages many women wore a type of headdress—called a wimple in English—that surrounded the neck and head, leaving only the face uncovered. The word gorgias, from gorge, meaning "throat," was then the French name for the part of the headdress that covered the throat and shoulders. In time it also came to be used as a name for the entire garment. Perhaps because a beautiful headdress was the mark of a fashionable lady, gorgias seems to have become an adjective meaning "elegant" or "fond of dress." Borrowed into English as gorgayse and then gorgeous, the word gradually took on the meaning of "beautiful" which it has today.
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