I.comp. magnificentior; sup. magnificentissimus; v. in the foll.; old form of comp. magnificior, acc. to Fest. p. 154 Müll., 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).
I. Lit.
A. 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.—
B. 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.—
II. 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: magnĭfĭcē and (postAug.) magnĭfĭcenter , 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.
