LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
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“splendid” in Latin

The English word splendid itself goes back to Latin splendeō, through splendidus.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

splendid
splendidus (PROP. and IMPROP.): splendens: fulgens: nitens: nitidus [SYN. in BRIGHT]: micans (glittering, bright): illustris: magnificus (IMPROP.; the latter referring more to the real nature of the thing). (The words are found in this connection and order.) splendidus et magnificus: praeclarus (illustrious). (The words are found in this connection and order.) magnificus et praeclarus; lautissimus (very neat and elegant, exquisitely fine). (The words are found in this connection and order.) magnificus et lautissimus. The splendid passages in a poem, eminentia, -ium (Quint.): splendid achievements, magnificae res gestae; facta splendida (†). To gain a splendid victory, magnifice vincere. A splendid reputation, nomen illustre. A splendid edition, editio et charta et litterarum formis ornatissima; liber et charta et litterarum formis ornatissimus (☞ not editio splendidissima, or liber spleudidissimus).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for splendid?
The usual Latin words for “splendid” are splendidus, splendeō, fulgeō; also niteō, nitidus, micō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.