a. Also 5–6 victoriouse, -yous, -ius (6 -yus); 5–6 vyctoryous(e, 6 -ious. [a. AF. victorious (= OF. and F. victorieux) or ad. L. (ante- and post-class.) victōriōs-us, f. victōria VICTORY sb. So Sp. and Pg. victorioso, It. vittorioso.]
1. Having gained victory or obtained supremacy as victor; triumphant over adversaries or rivals; successful in any contest or struggle: a. Of persons or an army. Also const. over.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1101. Hit was neuer herd … In any coste where ye come, but ye were clene victorius.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 171. This Mitridates apperede ever moore … victoryous after that þe noble consulles of the Romanes … hade victory of hym.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 53. Be mercyfull to them wyth whom we haue ben victorious.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xviii. 1. God onely is righteous, & remayneth a victorious kynge for euer.
1546. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 197. The most valiant and victorius kinge,… kinge Edward.
1596. Nashe, Saffron-Walden, Wks. (Grosart), III. 183. The victorioust Captaines and Warriours, the inuinciblest Cæsars and Conquerors.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 39. With much wonder that shee … was so victorious against the Spaniards.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 997. Heav’n Gates Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands Pursuing.
a. 1727. Newton, Chronol. Amended, iv. (1728), 299. They led their victorious armies against the King of Egypt.
1757. trans. Keysler’s Trav., III. 309. Giacomo da Pesaro,… victorious over the Turks in war, and over himself in peace.
1781. Cowper, Table-t., 473. Vengeance at last pours down upon their coast, A long despis’d, but now victorious, host.
1837. J. Sterling, Ess., etc. (1848), I. 176. Montaigne … yet had honesty and warmth of soul to see in Socrates a victorious witness for the … lastingness of truth.
1840. Keightley, Rom. Empire, II. vi. 246. Victorious over all his rivals,… Aurelian celebrated a triumph with unusual magnificence.
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel, ii. 60. The young monarch … had already shown himself … energetic and victorious.
b. transf. Of things.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 358. Victorious tre, proteccioun of trewe, That oonly were worthy for to bere The kyng of heven.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. xxii. (1904), 485. Love, be ashamed to be called Love: cruell Hate … is victorious over thee.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 142. Th’ Ethereal mould Incapable of stain would soon … purge off the baser fire Victorious.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 420. The smouldering flame the trunk receives; Ascending thence, it … At length victorious to the top aspires.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 320. Now the distemper, spite of draught or pill, Victorious seem’d.
1889. J. B. Bury, Hist. Later Rom. Emp., II. ix. I. 185. Julian’s championship of the dying cause furthered the victorious creed.
2. Of, belonging to, or characterized by victory; producing victory; emblematic of victory.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xvi. 62. He shulde be dygne … to obteyne by bataylles the conqueste vyctoryouse of the … empyre of Ytalye.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., cxlvii. (1533), 78. For the whyche vyctoryous acte, the sayde Charlys obteynyd a surname, and was called … Carolus Martellus.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. iv. 36. As their victorious deedes haue often showen, Being with fame through many Nations blowen.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. ii. 43. I hope well or to morrow, and will leade you, Where rather Ile expect victorious life, Then death, and Honor.
c. 1630. Milton, At a Solemn Musick, 14. The Cherubick host … With those just Spirits that wear victorious Palms.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, III. 104. Sudden, these honours shall be snatch’d away, And curs’d for ever this victorious day.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, VIII. 331. And I will give to thy victorious hand, After my own, the noblest recompense.
1829. Scott, Guy M., Introd. He had not power to explain the assurance of pardon which he continued to assert, or to name the victorious name on which he trusted. Ibid. (1831), Ct. Rob., iv. It now became a serious and doubtful question whether our victorious eagles might be able to penetrate any farther into the country of the enemy.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 95. They who had borne victorious arms against the Turks.
