fabulous

fabulous
fabulous early 15c., "mythical, legendary," from L. fabulosus "celebrated in fable; rich in myths," from fabula (see FABLE (Cf. fable)). Sense of "incredible" first recorded c.1600. Slang shortening fab first recorded 1957; popularized in reference to The Beatles, c.1963.
Fabulous (often contracted to fab(s)) and fantastic are also in that long list of words which boys and girls use for a time to express high commendation and then get tired of, such as, to go no farther back than the present century, topping, spiffing, ripping, wizard, super, posh, smashing. [Gower's 1965 revision of Fowler's "Modern English Usage"]
Related: Fabulously.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Fabulous — Fab u*lous (f[a^]b [ u]*l[u^]s), a. [L. fabulosus; cf. F. fabuleux. See {Fable}.] 1. Feigned, as a story or fable; related in fable; devised; invented; not real; fictitious; as, a fabulous description; a fabulous hero. [1913 Webster] The fabulous …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fabulous — Chanson par Ashley Tisdale et Lucas Grabeel extrait de l’album High School Musical 2 HSM 2.jpg Sortie 24 septembre 2007 (É. U.) Durée 3:21 Genre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fabulous — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Fabulous» Canción de Ashley Tisdale y Lucas Grabeel Álbum High School Musical 2 (álbum) Publicación 14 de agost …   Wikipedia Español

  • fabulous — originally meant ‘mythical, legendary’, but already in the 17c its meaning was extended to refer to anything astonishing or incredible, whether or not it belonged to fable or legend. The word enjoyed a revival in America and Britain in the 50s… …   Modern English usage

  • Fabulous — can refer to:* a typical gay word * See also: Taffy, Glamazon, Beautiful, and Feminine * Fabulous (song), a 2002 song by Jaheim * Fabulous (High School Musical 2 song), a song from the film High School Musical 2 *Fabolous (sic) , a rap artist *… …   Wikipedia

  • fabulous — index exorbitant, remarkable, special Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • fabulous — *fictitious, mythical, legendary, apocryphal Analogous words: astonishing, amazing, astounding (see SURPRISE vb): extravagant, inordinate (see EXCESSIVE): *monstrous, prodigious, stupendous Contrasted words: credible, believable, colorable (see… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • fabulous — [adj] amazing, wonderful 10*, A 1*, aces*, A OK*, astonishing, astounding, awesome, best, breathtaking, cool*, doozie*, extravagant, fab*, fantastic, fictitious, first class, greatest, groovy*, immense, inconceivable, incredible, legendary,… …   New thesaurus

  • fabulous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) great; extraordinary. 2) informal wonderful. 3) mythical. DERIVATIVES fabulously adverb fabulousness noun. ORIGIN Latin fabulosus celebrated in fable , from fabula story …   English terms dictionary

  • fabulous — [fab′yo͞o ləs, fab′byələs] adj. [ME < L fabulosus, fabled < fabula] 1. of or like a fable; imaginary, fictitious, or legendary 2. hard to believe; incredible; astounding 3. Informal very good; wonderful SYN. FICTITIOUS fabulously adv.… …   English World dictionary

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