lofty

From Middle English lofty, lofti, lofte (“of high rank; noble; ornate”), equivalent to loft +‎ -y; see loft (“sky, firmament; upper room”).

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: lŏftʹi, IPA^(key): /ˈlɒfti/
• (General American) enPR: lôftʹi, IPA^(key): /ˈlɔːfti/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) enPR: lŏftʹi, IPA^(key): /ˈlɑfti/
• Rhymes: -ɒfti, -ɔːfti

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lofty (comparative loftier, superlative loftiest)

1. high, tall, having great height or stature
   • 1862, George Borrow, chapter 98, in Wild Wales‎:

     On my left was a river, which came roaring down from a range of lofty mountains right before me to the south-east.

   • 1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 551:

     When the night was half spent, I rose and walked on, till the day broke in all its beauty and the sun rose over the heads of the lofty hills and athwart the low gravelly plains.

2. idealistic, implying over-optimism

   a lofty goal

   • 2013, Delme Parfitt in Wales Online, Cardiff City 1 - 0 Swansea City: Steven Caulker heads Bluebirds to South Wales derby win (3 November 2013)

     A goal from Steven Caulker, just after the hour mark, was enough to hand victory to Malky Mackay's men, with Swansea falling some way short of the lofty standards they have set previously at this level.

3. extremely proud; arrogant; haughty
   • F. Harrison

     that lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their grandfathers

• (having great height or stature): noble, honorable

• (having great height or stature): mean, ignoble
• (idealistic): familiar, vulgar

• loft
• aloft