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Definition of prestige - 3 dictionary results

pres⋅tige

  [pre-steezh, -steej]
Use prestige in a Sentence
–noun
1. reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, rank, or other favorable attributes.
2. distinction or reputation attaching to a person or thing and thus possessing a cachet for others or for the public: The new discothèque has great prestige with the jet set.
–adjective
3. having or showing success, rank, wealth, etc.
Origin:
1650–60 for an earlier sense; < F (orig. pl.): deceits, delusions, juggler's tricks < L praestīgiae juggler's tricks, var. of praestrīgiae, deriv. from base of praestringere to blunt (sight or mind), lit., to tie up so as to constrict, equiv. to prae- pre- + stringere to bind fast; see stringent

Related forms:
pres⋅tige⋅ful, adjective

Synonyms:
1. weight, importance.

Antonyms:
1. disrepute.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pres·tige   (prě-stēzh', -stēj')   
n.  
  1. The level of respect at which one is regarded by others; standing.
  2. A person's high standing among others; honor or esteem.
  3. Widely recognized prominence, distinction, or importance: a position of prestige in diplomatic circles.

[French, illusion, from Latin praestīgiae, tricks, probably alteration of *praestrīgiae, from praestringere, to touch, blunt, blind : prae-, pre- + stringere, to draw tight; see streig- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Prestige

Pres"tige\ (?; 277), n. [F., fr. L. praestigum delusion, illusion, praestigae deceptions, jugglers' tricks, prob. fr. prae before + the root of stinguere to extinguish, originally, to prick. See Stick, v.]

1. Delusion; illusion; trick. [Obs.]

The sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture. --Bp. Warburton.

2. Weight or influence derived from past success; expectation of future achievements founded on those already accomplished; force or charm derived from acknowledged character or reputation. "The prestige of his name must go for something." --Sir G. C. Lewis.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : prestige
Spanish: prestigio,
German: das Prestige,
Japanese: 威信
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