magnificus, a, um, adj. (comp. magnificentior; sup. magnificentissimus; v. in the foll.; old form of comp. magnificior, acc. to Fest. p. 154 Mull., and sup. magnificissimus, acc. to Fest. p. 151; so in the adv. magnificissime, Att. ap. Prisc. p. 603 P.) [magnus-facio], great in deeds or in sentiment, noble, distinguished, eminent, august, great in soul, high-minded (cf. splendidus). Lit. In a good sense (class.): vir factis magnificus, Liv. 1, 10: Rhodiorum civitas magna atque magnifica, great, glorious, Sall. C. 51: animus excelsus magnificusque, Cic. Off. 1, 23, 79: cives in suppliciis deorum magnifici, domi parci, magnificent, splendid, grand, fond of splendor, Sall. C. 9: elegans, non magnificus, fond of show, Nep. Att. 13; Suet. Ner. 30: magnificus in publicum, Plin. Pan. 51, 3; Vell. 2, 130.

— In a bad sense, bragging, boastful (ante-class.): cum magnifico milite, urbis verbis qui inermus capit, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 42; id. As. 2, 2, 84.

— Transf., of inanim. and abstr. things, splendid, rich, fine, costly, sumptuous, magnificent, etc. (class.): magnificae villae, Cic. Leg. 2, 1, 2: oppidum, Plin. 6, 19, 22, § 67: apparatus, Cic. Off. 1, 8, 25: ornatus, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 22, § 58: funera, Caes. B. G. 6, 18: funus, Curt. 4, 8, 8: venationes, Cic. Fam. 7, 1, 3: nomen, Tac. H. 4, 15: res gestae, Liv. 26, 2, 1.

—Of speech, of high strain, lofly, sublime: genus dicendi magnificum atque praeclarum, Cic. de Or. 2, 21, 89: oratio, Plin. 35, 4, 9, § 26; cf. in the comp.: magnificentius dicendi genus et ornatius, Cic. Brut. 32, 123.

—In a bad sense, boastful, bragging: verba, Ter. Eun. 4, 6, 3: litterae, Suet. Calig. 44.

—Sup.: Crassus magnificentissimā aedilitate functus, Cic. Off. 2, 16.

—Of medicaments, valuable, useful, admirable, Plin. 19, 3, 15, § 38.

—Hence, adv., in two forms: magnificē and (postAug.) magnificenter, nobly, magnificently, generously, grandly, sumptuously, richly, splendidly, excellently: magnifice conscreabor, Plaut. Pers. 2, 5, 7: cesso magnifice patriceque, id. Cas. 3, 6, 7: magnifice laudare, Cic. Brut. 73, 254: ornare convivium, id. Quint. 30, 93: comparare convivi um, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 26, § 65: vivere, id. Off. 1, 26, 65: vincere, splendidly, gloriously, id. Cat. 2, 1, 1: radicula ex melle prodest magnifice ad tussim, admirably, excellently, Plin. 24, 11, 58, § 96; 30, 14, 47, § 139.

—In a bad sense, pompously, proudly, haughtily, boastfully: se jactare. Auct. Her. 4, 21, 29: incedere, Liv. 2, 6.

—In the form magnificenter: oppidum magnificenter aedificatum et eleganter, Vitr. 1, 6.

—Comp.: magnificentius et dicere et sentire, grandly, loftily, Cic. Or. 34, 119.

—Sup.: consulatum magnificentissime gerere, Cic. Fam. 4, 7, 2: gloriosissime et magnificentissime aliquid conficere, id. Att. 14, 4, 2: jactare se, 2, 21, 3.