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great
"Great Scott!" 

(with "great" as intensifier, used in mild oaths).

"great with hope,"

full (of) hope.

"great with child" (possibly archaic):

1. pregnant.

2. being in the late stages of pregnancy.

"be great on" (informal):

1. to be informed about.

2. to be enthusiastic about or for.

"great organ,"

the principal manual on an organ.

Compare choir, swell. Also called "great".

Origin:


before 900; Middle English greet, Old English grēat; cognate with Dutch groot, German gross. British dictionary: Old English grēat; related to Old Frisian grāt, Old High German grōz; see grit, groat. —Dictionary.com. // 

First Known Use: Adjective: before the 12th century. Adverb: 13th century. Noun: 13th century. History and Etymology: Adjective, Adverb, and Noun: Middle English grete, from Old English grēat; akin to Old High German grōz large. —Merriam-Webster.

Sources: 1, 2.

Updated: 16 August 2020 {7:22 PM}
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