Words / C2

PULKR-it-yood/ˈpʌlkrɪtjuːd/

Pulchritude is beauty, especially of a person (literary / formal): physical pulchritude, a display of pulchritude. Beauty (already in the dictionary) is everyday attractiveness; beautiful and pretty (already in the dictionary) are very nice to look at, and pleasantly attractive. Handsome (already in the dictionary) is good-looking, often of a man. This batch: refulgent is brightly shining, of light not of a face; execrable is extremely bad — the opposite flavour. A crest is not a named first-aider.

Meaning

Beauty, especially of a person (literary / formal).

Examples

• “Pulchritude of the crest is not a named first-aider.”
• “Beauty is being attractive to look at (already in B1). Beautiful is lovely to see (already in A1). Pretty is pleasantly attractive (already in A2). Handsome is good-looking (already in A2). Refulgent is brightly shining (this batch). Execrable is extremely bad (this batch) — the contrast. Finish of a crest can still be exact. Finish instead of a named post is a hole. Write the rota; leave the gilt.”

Good to know

Beauty (literary / formal). Everyday: beauty / beautiful / pretty (already in this dictionary). Close: handsome (already in A2). This batch: refulgent; execrable (the contrast). A crest ≠ a first-aider.

Near in meaning

beauty, loveliness, comeliness, handsomeness

New