Palace

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpælÉ™s/

Origin

From Middle English, from Old French palais, which comes from Latin palātium, from Palātium, in reference to the Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, where the aristocracy of the Roman Republic—and later, Roman emperors—built large, splendid residences. The name is ultimately either from Etruscan, the same source as Pales, or Latin palus ("stake; enclosure").

Full definition of palace

Noun

1. Official residence of a head of state or other dignitary, especially in a monarchical or imperial governmental system.
2. A large and lavishly ornate residence.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 1, The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, ….
3. A large, ornate public building used for entertainment or exhibitions.

Derived terms

Verb

1. (archaic) To decorate or ornate.
• 1921, Kenneth Morris, The Crest-Wave of Evolution Chapter , And this Great King was a far-way, tremendous, golden figure, moving in a splendor as of fairy tales; palaced marvelously, so travelers told, in cities compared with which even Athens seemed mean.
• 1874, Benj. N. Martin, Choice Specimens of American Literature, And Literary Reader Chapter , May, with her green lap full of sprouting leaves and bright blossoms, her song-birds making the orchards and meadows vocal, and rippling streams and cultivated gardens; June, with full-blown roses and humming-bees, plenteous meadows and wide cornfields, with embattled lines rising thick and green; August, with reddened orchards and heavy-headed harvests of grain, October, with yellow leaves and swart shadows; December, palaced in snow, and idly whistling through his numb fingers;-all have their various charm; and in the rose-bowers of summer, and as we spread our hands before the torches of winter, we say joyfully, "Thou hast made all things beautiful in their time."