(a) Of a person, esp. a lady: beautiful, fair, handsome; also used of a group of people; bright and ~; (b) as an epithet for a lady; the ~; (c) of Christ, the Virgin Mary, a supernatural being: beautiful, glorious; (d) of the human body or a part of it: beautiful, fair, handsome; (e) of a person or a group of people: illustrious, noble, excellent; (f) as noun: a beautiful person, esp. a fair lady; also, beautiful people [quot.: Mon may longe]; ~ under sheld, a handsome knight.

(a) Of the sun, moon, a star, etc.: bright, shining, luminous; also fig.; also, as noun: the bright sun [quots.: c1395 vr. & c1400]; (b) of metal, a precious stone, wine, etc.: gleaming, sparkling, brilliant; of blood: bright-colored; scales silver ~, silvery bright scales; (c) of a place, plant, feathers, etc.: beautiful, fair, pleasing; (d) of a weapon, armor, clothing, or other artifact: splendid, beautiful, resplendent; also used of a city, building, or ship; also, as noun: a gleaming weapon [quot.: c1400(?c1390)]; (e) good, excellent, precious; clean, pure; of a person, the heart: spiritually pure, innocent; of poison: powerful, unadulterated.

(a) In proverbs and conventional comparisons; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.106].