loftyadj.
/ˈlɒfti/, /ˈlɔːfti/, U.S. /ˈlɔfdi/, /ˈlɑfdi/ 1. † b. lofty tricks n. Obsolete acrobatic feats, tumbling. Also with tumbling.
a. Extending to a great height in the air; of imposing altitude, towering.Said of mountains, trees, buildings, rooms; not of persons, though lofty stature is a common phrase.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > [adjective] > great or considerable
higheOE
steepOE
heaven-highOE
highlyOE
brentc1400
hightc1480
hichty1513
procere1542
tall1548
spiringa1552
towereda1552
tower-like1552
upstretched1563
airy1565
excelse1569
haughty1570
topless1589
lofty1590
procerous1599
kiss-sky1603
skyish1604
topful?1611
aspiringc1620
sky-high1622
hiddy1632
tiptoed1632
sublime1635
towering1638
soaring1687
mountain high1693
clamberinga1717
skied1730
towery1731
pyramidic1740
skyey1750
skyward1792
skyscraping1797
exulting1798
high-reaching1827
steepling1892
high-rise1964
hi1972
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ix. sig. H6v Forwearied with my sportes, I did alight From loftie steed.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. H4v The Barke pild from the loftie Pine, His leaues will wither, and his sap decay. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. lvii. 7 Vpon a loftie and high mountaine hast thou set thy bed. View more context for this quotation
1648 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple (ed. 2) 99 Each loftiest Tree, Bowes lowest his leavy top, to looke for thee.
1756 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. I. 416 The baptistery..s a large and lofty octangular structure.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth I. 146 The plains are extensive; and the mountains remarkably lofty.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. ii. 268 Antenor's valiant son Of loftiest stature.
1823 J. Rutter Delineations of Fonthill 19 The loftiest apartment which domestic architecture can present, probably, in the world!
1835 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece I. 21 The lofty and precipitous rock..on which stood the citadel of Corinth.
1884 D. Pae Eustace 6 Fading away into the loftier Highland Mountains.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > acrobatic performance > [noun]
lofty tricks1603
equilibre1769
balancing1801
tumble1824
acrobatics1852
acrobacy1867
1567 G. Turberville tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. 110v Then did my wanton tricks and loftie mounting, more..delight thy minde.]
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. i. xxv. 71 I would faine have..excellent dauncers..teach any man to doe their loftie trickes, and high capers.
1621 B. Jonson Masque of Augures 146 Lofty tricks, or dancing on the ropes.
1786 Maryland Jrnl. 22 Oct. (advt.) Surprizing feats of Lofty Tumbling by a Groupe of Performers from Sadlers Wells.
c. Of flight: Soaring to a great height. Of the brow: Imposingly high.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > flight > [adjective]
free1657
sousing1700
lofty1738
vespering1914
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > forehead > [adjective] > types of
brentc1400
high?c1450
steep1509
high-browed?1614
broad-fronteda1616
bluff1665
low-browed1734
lofty1798
baby-browed1843
bluff-browed1851
beautiful-browed1913
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) cxlvii. ii Ye Birds of lofty Wing, On high his Praises bear.
1798 W. S. Landor Gebir ii. 154 The kingly brow, arched lofty for command.
2. In figurative and immaterial applications.absolute.1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 28 Sum tymes the prowde and loftie do walke there to be sene in there heyght and braverie.1611 Bible (King James) Isa. v. 15 The eyes of the loftie shall be humbled. View more context for this quotation
a. Haughty, overweening, proud. †Const. of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > [adjective]
overmoodeOE
highlyOE
overmoodOE
overmoodyOE
orgelc1175
dangerous?c1225
orgula1275
orgulousc1275
fiercec1290
hautain1297
highfulc1325
squeamousc1325
deignousc1330
digne1340
disdainousc1374
sirlya1375
lordlyc1390
high-hearteda1398
haught1430
haut1430
coppedc1449
excellentc1450
fastidious?a1475
loftyc1485
dain?1507
hichty1513
stiff-necked1526
supercilious1528
haughty1530
taunt?a1534
disdainfula1542
high in the instep1555
skeighc1560
queen-like?1571
surlyc1572
stately1579
coy1581
paughtya1586
steya1586
disdained1598
dortya1605
lordlike1605
overly1606
magnatical1608
stiff1608
surly-borne1609
high-sighted1610
lofty-minded1611
sublimed1611
patronizing1619
lording1629
sublimated1634
cavaliering1642
uncondescending1660
nose-in-the-air1673
sidy1673
fastuose1674
uncondescensive1681
condescending1707
stiff-rumped1728
fastidiose1730
cavalier1751
ogertful1754
pawky1809
supercilian1825
splendid1833
touch-me-not1852
pincé1858
high-stepping1867
eyeglassy1871
sniffy1871
cavalierly1876
snifty1889
Olympian1900
ritzy1920
mugwumpish1923
blasé1930
stiff-arsed1937
nose-high1939
c1485 Digby Myst., Mary Magd. 944 Whan I loke on þis lady, I am lofty as the lyon.
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer iii. sig. Kk.i Bearing themselues loftie of their beawtie and woorthinesse.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxxxi. 1 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 223 A lofty hart, a lifted ey Lord thou dost know I neuer bare.
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. ii. 12 The day of the Lord of hostes shall bee vpon euery one that is proud and loftie . View more context for this quotation
1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel 16 Cowring and Quaking at a Conqeror's Sword, But Lofty to a Lawfull Prince Restor'd.
1713 A. Pope in Guardian 16 Mar. 1/2 A lofty Gentleman, whose Air and Gait discovered when he had published a new Book.
1787 F. Burney Diary 21 Aug. (1842) III. 430 He appeared very lofty, and highly affronted.
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) II. App. 601 Several particulars are worked in with a lofty contempt for chronology.
1873 W. Black Princess of Thule viii. 123 Inclined to treat everybody..with a sort of lofty good humour.
b. Exalted in dignity, rank, character, or quality. Of expectations, aims, desires: Directed to high objects.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > majesty, glory, or grandeur > [adjective]
higheOE
drightlikeOE
highlyOE
drightfula1225
prouda1275
principalc1385
solemna1387
gentlec1390
high and mighty1400
imperial?c1400
royalc1405
kinglyc1425
sublimatec1425
lordfulc1429
lordlyc1440
assumpt1447
raiseda1450
haught1470
kinglikec1485
lordlike1488
triumphant1494
greatlya1500
princely?a1510
supereminent1531
princelike1532
lofta1547
lofty1548
regal1561
supernal1562
haughty1563
excelse1569
queen-like?1571
majestical1578
erecteda1586
augustious1591
ennobled1592
imperious1592
enthronized1593
august1594
high-born1598
sublimed1602
jovial1604
majestic1606
enthroned1609
starred1615
exalted1623
majestuous1633
reared1638
sublimary1655
majestative1656
kingrik1663
superb1663
grand1673
celse1708
stilted1744
canonized1790
queenly1791
apotheosized1794
princified1857
society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > [adjective]
kindly1340
heroical?a1475
heroicc1550
high-set1597
fine1598
unbase1601
exalteda1616
noblea1616
spiritful1631
raised1662
high-toned1770
lofty1776
etherealized1846
upward1850
unsordid1857
high-tone1864
14.. J. Audelay Poems (Douce 302) lf. 29/2 Semele to se, o bold corage, Louele & lofte of his lenage.]
1548 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) Excelsus, hyghe or great, lofty, haute, noble.
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. P5 Their estate (being peraduenture loftie, and of power to commaund or sway ouer vs) will not admit by writing to entermeddle with their actions.
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. lvii. 15 Thus saith the High and loftie One that inhabiteth eternitie. View more context for this quotation
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. xii. 246 These lofty expectations were, however, soon disappointed.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 501 The courage of the survivor was sustained by an enthusiasm as lofty as lofty as any that is recorded in martyrology.
1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. xi. 646 How can they, constantly occupied with their lofty pursuits have leisure for such inferior matters?
1874 J. P. Mahaffy Social Life Greece viii. 257 The moral teaching of Euripides, of Socrates, and of the more lofty Sophists, was making sure and silent progress.
1877 E. R. Conder Basis of Faith v. 203 It is man's nobility, not his defect, that the most lofty and commanding part of him is his moral nature.
1878 E. Jenkins Haverholme 61 Heir to one of the loftiest of the English peerages.
c. Of compositions or utterances (hence occasionally of writers or speakers): Elevated in style or sentiment; sublime, grandiose.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [adjective] > lofty or grandiloquent
magnificenta1460
statelya1525
magnifical1533
tragical1533
lofty1565
tragic1566
sublime1586
over-high1587
magnific1589
heroic1590
buskina1593
grandiloquous1593
full-mouthed1594
high-pitched1594
buskined1595
full-mouth1595
high-borne1596
altisonant1612
Roman1619
high-sounding1624
transcendent1631
magniloquent1640
loud1651
altiloquent1656
grandiloquent1656
largiloquent1656
altisonous1661
tall1670
elevate1673
grandisonous1674
sounding1683
exalted1684
grandisonant1684
grandific1727
magniloquous1727
orotund1799
superb1825
spread eagle1839
grandiose1840
magnisonanta1843
togated1868
elevated1875
mandarin1959
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Effero Elatis verbis intensa oratio, a lofty and highe stile.
1577 J. Knewstub Confut. Heresies (1579) **5 b They set forth their trifling and halfepeny doctrines with loftie and high phrases of speech.
1590 E. Spenser To Ld. Buckhurst in Faerie Queene sig. Qq3v In loftie numbers and heroicke stile.
1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xiv. 194 They may proceed..from the lowest kind of verse in the Eclogues, to something a loftier in the Georgicks.
1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 20 in Justa Edouardo King He knew Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme.
1640 Bp. J. Wilkins Disc. New Planet (1707) i. 148 His Book [Job] is more especially remarkable for lofty Expressions.
1692 F. Atterbury Serm. Whitehall 28 Therefore is it [sc. the Te Deum] so lofty and so moving.
1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 12 The Shades where..lofty Denham sung.
1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues II. 79 About astronomy I am willing to speak in your lofty strain.
d. Of majestic sound.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [adjective] > majestic
stately1589
lofty1598
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > [adjective] > by quality of sound
softa1525
lofty1598
vocal1649
alto1802
contrabass1834
soprano1856
baritone1876
monophonous1878
tinny1904
sopranino1907
plinky1926
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. ii. 97 Sound all the loftie instruments of war. View more context for this quotation
1815 W. Wordsworth White Doe of Rylstone i. 5 With one consent the people rejoice, Filling the church with a lofty voice!
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > state of sea > [adjective] > rough
woodc900
drofc1000
bremea1300
scaldinga1300
sharp1377
wrothc1400
welteringc1420
rude?a1439
wawishc1450
wallya1522
robustuousa1544
troublesome1560
turbulent1573
boisterous?1594
lofty1600
enridged1608
hollow1705
ugly1744
testy1833
topping1857
seething1871
troughy1877
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > strong
strongeOE
stiffc1290
sternc1374
wrothc1400
vehement1483
strainable1497
freshc1515
stout1533
bloysterous?1570
ruffing1577
boisterous?1594
lofty1600
chafing1762
blustery1774
smacking1820
snoring1822
spanking1849
gale force1902
1600 in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 189 It is very hard to find it when the wind is lofty.
1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 146 Such a lofty and dangerous Sea as I have seldom seen.
4. dialect. ‘Massive, superior’ ( Eng. Dial. Dict., referring to Sleigh, Derbysh. Gloss. 1865). †Of sheep: Stout, in good condition.
ΚΠ
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 4 Yett is it a custome with many..to clowte their shearings to hinder them from tuppinge, that by this meanes they may make them more lofty sheepe.
1778 W. Pryce Mineralogia Cornubiensis 324 Lofty Tin, in contradistinction to Floran Tin, for Lofty Tin is richer, massive, and rougher.
Compounds
C1. In syntactical combinations with present participles.
lofty-looking adj.
ΚΠ
1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) I. 283 His great Creator..beholds with equal favour the creeping ant, and lofty-looking Briton.
lofty-sounding adj.
ΚΠ
1777 R. Potter tr. Æschylus Prometheus Chain'd in tr. Æschylus Tragedies 23 Woes like these Are earnings of the lofty-sounding tongue.
C2. In parasynthetic derivatives.
lofty-headed adj.
ΚΠ
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 290 That with their loftie-headed tops reach to the cloudy skie.
lofty-humoured adj.
ΚΠ
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Madamoiselle de cinquante pour cent,..may be applyed to the loftie-humored wife of an extorting Vsurer.
lofty-lineaged adj.
ΚΠ
1871 R. Browning Balaustion 125 Friends felicitating both, As who were lofty-lineaged, each of us Born of the best.
lofty-minded adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > [adjective]
overmoodeOE
highlyOE
overmoodOE
overmoodyOE
orgelc1175
dangerous?c1225
orgula1275
orgulousc1275
fiercec1290
hautain1297
highfulc1325
squeamousc1325
deignousc1330
digne1340
disdainousc1374
sirlya1375
lordlyc1390
high-hearteda1398
haught1430
haut1430
coppedc1449
excellentc1450
fastidious?a1475
loftyc1485
dain?1507
hichty1513
stiff-necked1526
supercilious1528
haughty1530
taunt?a1534
disdainfula1542
high in the instep1555
skeighc1560
queen-like?1571
surlyc1572
stately1579
coy1581
paughtya1586
steya1586
disdained1598
dortya1605
lordlike1605
overly1606
magnatical1608
stiff1608
surly-borne1609
high-sighted1610
lofty-minded1611
sublimed1611
patronizing1619
lording1629
sublimated1634
cavaliering1642
uncondescending1660
nose-in-the-air1673
sidy1673
fastuose1674
uncondescensive1681
condescending1707
stiff-rumped1728
fastidiose1730
cavalier1751
ogertful1754
pawky1809
supercilian1825
splendid1833
touch-me-not1852
pincé1858
high-stepping1867
eyeglassy1871
sniffy1871
cavalierly1876
snifty1889
Olympian1900
ritzy1920
mugwumpish1923
blasé1930
stiff-arsed1937
nose-high1939
society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > [adjective] > high-minded or magnanimous > specifically of actions, etc.
worthyc1430
generous1581
lofty-minded1791
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Orgueilleux,..hautie, loftie-minded.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1744 I. 93 (note) [Johnson:] That lofty-minded man.
lofty-necked adj.
ΚΠ
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 100 The Colt, that for a Stallion is design'd..lofty neck'd; Sharp headed, Barrel belly'd, broadly back'd. View more context for this quotation
lofty-paced adj.
ΚΠ
1796 S. T. Coleridge Lett. (1895) 210 He does not possess opulence of imaginative lofty-paced harmony.
lofty-peaked adj.
ΚΠ
1844 J. Tomlin Missionary Jrnls. 272 A lofty-peaked mountain.
lofty-plumed adj.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. iii. 25 Now the time is come, That France must vale her lofty plumed Crest. View more context for this quotation
lofty-roofed adj.
ΚΠ
1848 B. D. Walsh tr. Aristophanes Clouds i. iv Lofty-roofed fanes, and marble-built portals.
lofty-windowed adj.
ΚΠ
1777 T. Warton Poems 63 Along the lofty-window'd hall The storied tapestry was hung.
C3. † lofty-like adv. Obsolete as if placed on high.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > high position > [adverb]
upc888
highOE
highlyOE
thereupc1000
anovenOE
overOE
boveOE
on, upon (the) lofta1100
aloftc1175
bibufennc1175
on higha1200
abovec1225
anovenonc1300
in heighta1340
on or upon height1340
ahighc1350
outh1389
over loftc1430
aheight1477
supernally1596
lofty-like1604
sublimely1625
way up1843
thereabove1891
1604 S. Grahame Passionate Sparke sig. E4 Man climbes aboue the course of such conceate That loftie-like, they loath to look below.
Draft additions 1997
Of wool and woollen or piled fabrics: bulky and springy; resilient.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > wool > [adjective] > other
bagging1732
super-head1800
burly1805
felting1805
Tibet1827
pointy1844
motey1851
blue1884
shivey1884
shafty1891
lofty1909
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [adjective] > with pile or nap > other
flocked1607
thick-set1709
plated1832
terry1835
lofty1909
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from wool > [adjective] > other
say1531
bandy1552
russel1566
shalloon1665
doily1680
West of England1779
lofty1909
1889 J. Burnley Hist. Wool & Woolcombing xii. 321 The same curl or crochet, the same softness and loftiness, and the same high spinning qualities as the best handcombed wool of the old days.]
1909 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Lofty, full-bodied;—said of wool.
1974 Anderson (S. Carolina) Independent 18 Apr. (Sears Advt. Suppl.) 7 Luxurious towels with a thick and lofty feel. 100% cotton-looped on one side for absorbency and sheared on the other for velvety softness.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 2 Oct. 3/3 (advt.) A warm, lofty blend of Dacron and worsted wool for good looks, wrinkle resistance and long wear.
Draft additions 1997
colloquial. (A nickname for) a very tall person or (ironic) a short person.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily height > tallness > [noun] > person
mart1722
staup1825
corn-stalk1827
skyscraper1847
skelper1854
tiny1931
lofty1933
the world > life > the body > bodily height > shortness > [noun] > person
dwarfeOE
congeonc1230
go-by-ground?a1300
smalla1300
shrimpc1386
griga1400
gruba1400
murche1440
nirvil1440
mitinga1450
witherling1528
wretchocka1529
elf1530
hop-o'-my-thumb1530
pygmy1533
little person1538
manikin1540
mankin1552
dandiprat1556
yrle1568
grundy1570
Jack Sprat1570
squall1570
manling1573
Tom Thumb1579
pinka1585
squib1586
screaling1594
giant-dwarf1598
twattle1598
agate1600
minimus1600
cock sparrow1602
dapperling1611
modicum1611
scrub1611
sesquipedalian1615
dwarflinga1618
wretchcock1641
homuncio1643
whip-handle1653
homuncule1656
whippersnapper1674
chitterling1675
sprite1684
carliea1689
urling1691
wirling1691
dwarf man1699
poppet1699
durgan1706
short-arse1706
tomtit1706
Lilliputian1726
wallydraigle1736
midge1757
minikin1761
squeeze-crab1785
minimum1796
niff-naff1808
titman1818
teetotum1822
squita1825
cradden1825
nyaff1825
weed1825
pinkeen1850
fingerling1864
Lilliput1867
thumbling1867
midget1869
inch1884
shorty1888
titch1888
skimpling1890
stub1890
scrap1898
pygmoid1922
lofty1933
peewee1935
smidgen1952
pint-size1954
pint-sized1973
munchkin1974
1933 M. Lowry Ultramarine ii. 101 Lofty, you come, will you? Pateman, you too.
1949 P. Newton High Country Days vii. 69 Lofty, in happy mood,..delighted young Wallace with tall stories of ‘down south’.
1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren ix. 169 In the following [terms] the chief emphasis is on height, ‘Lofty’ being the most popular nickname, followed by ‘Longshanks’.
1962 J. Franklyn Dict. Nicknames 63/2 Lofty, nickname for a tall man. Of naval origin, its use has spread to other Services and into civilian life. Via the mechanism of humour by inversion it is very frequently bestowed upon a particularly small man.
1975 L. Ryan Shearers 97 ‘All set?’ Lofty asked. ‘Set!’ Sandy said. ‘Come in, Spinner!’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1485- to show one's face
- to show one's game
- to show one's hand
- to show one's head
- to show one's mettle
- to show one's mind
- to show one's neb
- to show one's nose
- to show one's paces
- to show one's teeth
- to show one's true colours
- to show one's work
- to show one's working
- to show one's working out
- to show one's workings
- to show or do one a courtesy
- to show or do one courtesy
- to show or get a look at the elephant
- to show or kithe semblant
- to show out
- to show promise
- to show put someone up to the ropes
- to show round
- to show signs of
- to show signs that