golden

See also: Golden

English

WOTD – 19 February 2010

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɡəʊl.dən/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈɡoʊl.dən/
  • (file)
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -əʊldən
  • Hyphenation: gol‧den

Etymology 1

From Middle English golden, a restored form (due to the noun gold) of earlier Middle English gulden, gylden, gilden (golden), from Old English gylden (golden), from Proto-Germanic *gulþīnaz (golden, made of gold), equivalent to gold + -en. Cognate with Dutch gouden, gulden (golden), German gülden, golden (golden), Danish gylden (golden). More at gold.

Adjective

golden (comparative more golden or goldener, superlative most golden or goldenest)

  1. Made of, or relating to, gold.
    She wore a golden crown.
    • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
      And now the concern which Partridge felt at being obliged to quit the warm chimney-corner, and a cup of excellent liquor, was somewhat compensated by hearing that he was to proceed no farther on foot, for Jones, by golden arguments, had prevailed with the boy to attend him back to the inn whither he had before conducted Sophia []
  2. Having a colour or other richness suggestive of gold.
    Under a golden sun.
  3. Of a beverage, flavoured or colored with turmeric. [from c. 2010]
  4. Marked by prosperity, creativity etc.
    The Renaissance was a golden era.
    the Golden Horseshoe
  5. Advantageous or very favourable.
    This is a golden opportunity
    • 2011 October 20, Jamie Lillywhite, “Tottenham 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan”, in BBC Sport:
      ... a seasoned Champions League outfit, who beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp in 2009-10 and continually worked their way between the home defence to create some golden opportunities.
  6. Relating to a fiftieth anniversary.
    It's not long until our golden wedding.
  7. Relating to the elderly or retired.
    After retiring, Bob and Judy moved to Arizona to live out their golden years.
  8. (Britain, slang) Fine, without problems.
    • 2007, Colin Barr, Steve Katai, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Triathlon Training, Penguin →ISBN, page 28
      Many anti-fog variety goggles are available, but if you don't get that type, just rub a little spit on the lenses before you put them on in the water and you'll be golden.
    • 2009, Mark Wiskup, Presentation S.O.S.: From Perspiration to Persuasion in 9 Easy Steps, Hachette UK →ISBN
      Therefore, the task ahead is easy. When the spotlight is on you, never let the audience down and you'll be golden.
    • 2011, Wayne R. Dempsey, 101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster, Motorbooks →ISBN, page 68
      If all of the marks line up perfectly, then you're golden, and you can continue on with finishing up the installation.
Derived terms
Translations

Noun

golden (plural goldens)

  1. Kyphosus vaigiensis, a fish found in southeast Asia.

Etymology 2

From gold + -en, or perhaps a derivation from the adjective above.

Verb

golden (third-person singular simple present goldens, present participle goldening, simple past and past participle goldened)

  1. (intransitive) To become gold or golden (in colour).
  2. (transitive) To make golden or like gold.
    • 1994, Marion H. Hedges, Iron City:
      It goldened, as nothing else goldened, the commonplace countryside.
Translations

Anagrams


Dutch

Pronunciation

  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔldən

Verb

golden

  1. plural past indicative and subjunctive of gelden

Anagrams


German

Alternative forms

Etymology

Gold + -en

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡɔldn̩/
  • (file)
  • (file)

Adjective

golden (comparative goldener, superlative am goldensten)

  1. golden; gold (made of gold)
  2. golden (gold-coloured)

Declension

Synonyms

Derived terms

See also

Further reading


Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From gilden, reformed by analogy with gold.

Adjective

golden

  1. Formed from gold.
  2. Decorated or covered with gold.
  3. Having a golden colour.
  4. (figurative) Of excellent quality or worth; precious, best.

Descendants

See also

References

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