breathtaking – amazing, surprising, astonishing, enough to make you gasp with pleasure, and almost enough to make you forget to breathe.
choice – preferred, prized, specially selected. In New Zealand, the exclamation “Choice!” is used similarly to “Great!” in the United States.
dazzling – amazing, splendid, brilliant, shining so bright that it’s hard to see it.
delectable – highly delicious, usually describing food, from the Latin for “delight.”
delightful – causing joy, delight or pleasure, producing positive emotion, with the same Latin root as “delectable.”
deluxe – high quality, related to luxury, from the Latin for “excess.”
enjoyable – pleasant, bringing pleasure and satisfaction – bringing joy.
excellent – superior, best in its class, of the highest quality, making a person shout “Excelsior!”
exceptional – uncommon, rare, and better for being so.
exemplary – an example of high quality, a model for others.
fine – delicate, exquisite, almost as good as it gets. Related to the French and Latin words for “finished” and “exact.” Overused until often it merely means “acceptable.”
exquisite – exceptionally fine or rare, with the sense of extreme
favorable – helpful, encouraging, positive, convenient, such as getting hoped-for results.
first-rate – exceptionally good, in the highest class. Describing a British naval vessel with more than 100 guns.
first-string – the starting players on a sports team; that is, the best of them. Many other expressions begin with the word first.
five-star – from the hotel rating system in which a five-star hotel is among the world’s best.
formidable – causing awe, respect, wonder or even fear, perhaps because it’s so large or strong.
gilt-edged – high quality, from the practice of putting a thin layer of gold on the edges of a book.
gratifying – pleasing, satisfying, making someone content.
incredible – amazing, beyond belief, almost too good to be true.
luxurious – fine or comfortable, such as an expensive hotel room. I use it to show gratitude for a gift that is too fancy for my tastes.
magnificent – splendid, elegant, noble. From the Latin word for “great deeds.”
opulent – showy, extravagant, magnificent, sumptuous – more than luxurious, with the sense of “more than you really need”
pleasing – giving cheer, pleasure, or enjoyment – something that pleases you
positive – certain, good, favorable. Currently used in expressions such as “positive energy” or “positive vibes.”
precious – beloved, valuable, worthy, of high price. “Precious” writing is euphuistic: overly cute and takes itself too seriously.
prime – first, as in first quality.
rare – uncommon, scarce, and therefore valuable. The gravestone of an influential English playwright is inscribed with the (misspelled) tribute “O rare Ben Johnson”.
satisfying – sufficient, pleasing, more than adequate.
select – privileged, specially chosen, high-quality.
shipshape – well-organized, fully prepared, meticulous, tidy. Before you embark on an ocean voyage, you want your ship to be in shape.
sound – healthy, solid, secure, complete. If a floor is sound, you won’t fall through.
sterling – of high, verifiable value, as in sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver. Originally referring to British coins, which had a star or a starling on them in the Middle Ages.
striking – impressive, memorable, calling to mind the striking of a coin.
sumptuous – costly, expensive, as in a meal with many courses of great variety. We’ve got a whole article about sumptuous.
top-notch – belonging to the highest level, possibly from some 19th century game that used notches to keep score.
subtle – clever and crafty, though that’s an older meaning. A subtle flavor is not overbearing, and the chef will be pleased if you tell him so.
up to snuff – meeting the standard, adequate, sharp. Snuff is a more expensive powdered tobacco, which was sniffed by higher-class gentlemen as a stimulant in the 19th century.
valuable – worthy of esteem, having high worth or value.
welcome – anticipated, a pleasure to see, received with gladness, as in “welcome news.” From the Old English for “a wished-for guest.”
well-made – built right, properly constructed, sound.
Ok. nice job reading it all.
As a seasoned language enthusiast and expert, I've delved into the nuances of the concepts you've presented, examining their etymologies, cultural contexts, and practical applications. My understanding extends beyond the mere definitions, allowing me to offer insights into the subtle distinctions between these terms and how they contribute to effective communication.
Let's unravel the richness encapsulated in the vocabulary you provided:
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Breathtaking:
- Amazing, surprising, astonishing, evoking a gasp of pleasure.
- Creates a sense of awe and wonder, almost enough to make one forget to breathe.
-
Choice:
- Preferred, prized, specially selected.
- In New Zealand, used similarly to "Great!" in the United States.
-
Dazzling:
- Amazing, splendid, brilliant, shining so bright that it's hard to see.
- Conveys a level of excellence that captivates and overwhelms.
-
Delectable:
- Highly delicious, often describing food.
- Derived from the Latin for "delight," indicating a delightful culinary experience.
-
Delightful:
- Causes joy, delight, or pleasure.
- Produces positive emotions and contributes to a joyful experience.
-
Deluxe:
- High quality, related to luxury.
- Rooted in the Latin for "excess," indicating a superior and luxurious standard.
-
Enjoyable:
See AlsoNot feeling good enough?You Are Enough: How to Answer the Question "Am I Good Enough?"Dealing with difficult behaviour: Nosy peopleGood enough in a sentence (esp. good sentence like quote, proverb...)- Pleasant, bringing pleasure and satisfaction.
- Contributes to a sense of joy and contentment.
-
Excellent:
- Superior, best in its class.
- Represents the highest quality, often prompting expressions of excitement like "Excelsior!"
-
Exceptional:
- Uncommon, rare, and better for being so.
- Stands out due to its rarity and exceptional qualities.
-
Exemplary:
- An example of high quality, a model for others.
- Sets a standard for excellence and serves as a model for comparison.
-
Fine:
- Delicate, exquisite, almost as good as it gets.
- Originally related to the French and Latin words for "finished" and "exact."
-
Exquisite:
- Exceptionally fine or rare.
- Implies a level of beauty and rarity that goes beyond the ordinary.
-
Favorable:
- Helpful, encouraging, positive.
- Contributes to a positive outcome or experience.
-
First-rate:
- Exceptionally good, in the highest class.
- Often used to describe top-tier quality.
-
First-string:
- The starting players on a sports team, the best of them.
- Represents the highest level of skill and performance.
-
Five-star:
- Among the world's best, from the hotel rating system.
- Indicates top-tier quality and service.
-
Formidable:
- Causing awe, respect, wonder, or fear.
- Often associated with size or strength that commands attention.
-
Gilt-edged:
See AlsoWhat It Means to Be Enough- High quality, from the practice of putting a thin layer of gold on book edges.
- Implies a level of quality that is luxurious and refined.
-
Gratifying:
- Pleasing, satisfying, making someone content.
- Contributes to a sense of fulfillment and contentment.
-
Incredible:
- Amazing, beyond belief, almost too good to be true.
- Conveys a sense of disbelief due to the extraordinary nature of the subject.
-
Luxurious:
- Fine or comfortable, often associated with extravagance.
- Implies a level of comfort and opulence.
-
Magnificent:
- Splendid, elegant, noble.
- Derives from the Latin word for "great deeds."
-
Opulent:
- Showy, extravagant, sumptuous.
- Conveys a sense of abundance and excess.
-
Pleasing:
- Giving cheer, pleasure, or enjoyment.
- Something that brings joy and satisfaction.
-
Positive:
- Certain, good, favorable.
- Used in expressions like "positive energy" or "positive vibes."
-
Precious:
- Beloved, valuable, of high price.
- Often used to describe something cherished and of great value.
-
Prime:
- First, as in first quality.
- Represents the highest standard or level.
-
Rare:
- Uncommon, scarce, and therefore valuable.
- Often associated with uniqueness and scarcity.
-
Satisfying:
- Sufficient, pleasing, more than adequate.
- Contributes to a sense of contentment and fulfillment.
-
Select:
- Privileged, specially chosen, high-quality.
- Implies exclusivity and superior quality.
-
Shipshape:
- Well-organized, fully prepared, meticulous, tidy.
- Originates from the desire for a ship to be in perfect condition before a voyage.
-
Sound:
- Healthy, solid, secure, complete.
- Ensures a state of well-being and stability.
-
Sterling:
- Of high, verifiable value.
- Originally referring to British coins, indicating high purity.
-
Striking:
- Impressive, memorable.
- Evokes a strong and lasting impression.
-
Sumptuous:
- Costly, expensive, with great variety.
- Often associated with lavishness and extravagance.
-
Top-notch:
- Belonging to the highest level.
- Represents excellence and superior quality.
-
Subtle:
- Clever and crafty, not overbearing.
- Can also refer to a delicate and nuanced quality.
-
Up to snuff:
- Meeting the standard, adequate, sharp.
- Originating from the use of snuff as a high-quality tobacco in the 19th century.
-
Valuable:
- Worthy of esteem, having high worth or value.
- Implies significance and worthiness of attention.
-
Welcome:
- Anticipated, a pleasure to see, received with gladness.
- Rooted in the Old English for "a wished-for guest."
-
Well-made:
- Built right, properly constructed, sound.
- Reflects craftsmanship and reliability.
