palace
UK /ˈpælɪs/ · US /ˈpæləs/ noun, verb
Forms palaces palacing palaced
- noun Official residence of a head of state or other dignitary, especially in a monarchical or imperial governmental system.
- noun A large and lavishly ornate residence.
- noun A large, ornate public building used for entertainment or exhibitions.
- verb (archaic) To decorate or ornate.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English paleys, from Old French palais, which comes from Latin palātium, from Palātium, in reference to the Palatine (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 (“Pales, the Italic goddess of shepherds, flocks and livestock”), or Latin palus (“stake; enclosure”). Doublet of palazzo and Pfalz.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The residence of a sovereign, including the lodgings of high officers of state, and rooms for business, as well as halls for ceremony and reception. Chaucer.
- noun The official residence of a bishop or other distinguished personage.
Etymology [OE. palais, F. palais, fr. L. palatium, fr. Palatium, one of the seven hills of Rome, Paladin.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “palace”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details