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aureate

adjective
au·​re·​ate | \ ˈȯr-Ä“-É™t How to pronounce aureate (audio) \

Definition of aureate

1 : of a golden color or brilliance aureate light
2 : marked by grandiloquent and rhetorical style aureate diction
Synonyms This History of Aureate Is Golden More Example Sentences Learn More about aureate

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This History of Aureate Is Golden

Aureate is among several adjectives in English pertaining to gold that derive from the Latin name for the metal, aurum. While its relatives auriferous and auric are more likely to appear in scientific contexts to describe substances containing or made from gold (or Au, to use its chemical symbol), aureate has tended to have a more literary allure since it was first used in English in the early 15th century. Over time, the word's use was extended from "golden" to "resplendent," and it finally lost some of its luster as it came to mean "grandiloquent."

Examples of aureate in a Sentence

the aureate speeches that are traditionally given at graduation ceremonies

Recent Examples on the Web

 If monochrome is more your speed, Pecheux swept swathes of deep aureate pigment across the lids for the downtown girls at Saint Laurent. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "The 6 Beauty Lessons To Steal Right Now From Paris Fashion Week," 3 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aureate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of aureate

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for aureate

Middle English aureat, from Medieval Latin aureatus decorated with gold, from Latin aureus

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More from Merriam-Webster on aureate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with aureate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for aureate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aureate

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