[ad. L. augustus consecrated, venerable, prob. f. augur, as if ‘consecrated by augury, auspicious’; perh. influenced in use by association with augē-re to increase, magnify. Cf. mod.F. auguste (not in Cotgrave).]
1. Inspiring mingled reverence and admiration; impressing the emotions or imagination as magnificent; majestic, stately, sublime, solemnly grand; venerable, revered.
1664. H. More, Apol., 486. The ancient Philosophers look’d upon this Universe as one August Temple of God.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 414, ¶ 4. There is generally in Nature something more Grand and August, than what we meet with in the Curiosities of Art.
1795. Burke, Lett., Wks. 1842, II. 244. Never was so beautiful and so august a spectacle presented to the moral eye.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 534. The funeral was long remembered as the saddest and most august that Westminster had ever seen.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 149. [It] renews its ancient glance with an auguster beauty.
2. Venerable from birth or position; of stately dignity; dignified, worshipful, eminent, majestic. (Sometimes complimentary or perfunctory.)
1673. Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, V. i. Since he is a King … He looks so grand and so august.
a. 1720. J. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), II. 141. And made obeisance to that august Assembly.
1821. Byron, Two Fosc., IV. i. To mingle with a body so august.
1860. Trench, Serm. Westm., xiv. 152. We have a human sufferer in Him—the augustest indeed that ever shared our flesh and blood.
1864. H. Ainsworth, Tower, 231. Your august father was a prince of high and noble qualities.
