golden

See also: Golden

English

WOTD – 19 February 2010

Alternative forms

goulden (obsolete)

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡəʊl.dən/, [ˈɡɒʊ̯ɫ.dn̩]
(US) IPA^(key): /ˈɡoʊl.dən/, [ˈɡəɫ.dn̩]
Audio (US, California) (file)
Audio (AU) (file)
Rhymes: -əʊldən
Hyphenation: gol‧den

Etymology 1

From Middle English golden, a restored form (due to the noun gold) of earlier Middle English gulden, gylden, gilden ("golden"; > English gilden), from Old English gylden (“golden”), from Proto-West Germanic *gulþīn, from Proto-Germanic *gulþīnaz (“golden, made of gold”), equivalent to gold +‎ -en.

Cognate with Dutch gouden, gulden (“golden”), German gülden, golden (“golden”), Danish gylden (“golden”). Doublet of gilden. More at gold.

Adjective

golden (comparative more golden or goldener, superlative most golden or goldenest)

Made of, or relating to, gold.
She wore a golden crown.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling:
  And now the concern which Partridge felt at being obliged to quit the warm chimney-corner, and a cup of excellent liquor, was somewhat compensated by hearing that he was to proceed no farther on foot, for Jones, by golden arguments, had prevailed with the boy to attend him back to the inn whither he had before conducted Sophia […]
Having a colour or other richness suggestive of gold.
Under a golden sun.
golden:
Of a beverage, flavoured or colored with turmeric. [from c. 2010]
Marked by prosperity, creativity etc.
The Renaissance was a golden era.
the Golden Horseshoe
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], OCLC 928184292:
  O Partridge! could I hope once again to see that face; but, alas! all those golden dreams are vanished for ever, and my only refuge from future misery is to forget the object of all my former happiness.
Advantageous or very favourable.
This is a golden opportunity
- 2011 October 20, Jamie Lillywhite, “Tottenham 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan”, in BBC Sport‎:
  ... a seasoned Champions League outfit, who beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp in 2009-10 and continually worked their way between the home defence to create some golden opportunities.
Relating to a fiftieth anniversary.
It's not long until our golden wedding.
Relating to the elderly or retired.
After retiring, Bob and Judy moved to Arizona to live out their golden years.
(UK, slang) Fine, without problems.
- 2007, Colin Barr; Steve Katai, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Triathlon Training, Penguin, →ISBN, page 28:
  Many anti-fog variety goggles are available, but if you don't get that type, just rub a little spit on the lenses before you put them on in the water and you'll be golden.
- 2009, Mark Wiskup, Presentation S.O.S.: From Perspiration to Persuasion in 9 Easy Steps, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
  Therefore, the task ahead is easy. When the spotlight is on you, never let the audience down and you'll be golden.
- 2011, Wayne R. Dempsey, 101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster, Motorbooks, →ISBN, page 68:
  If all of the marks line up perfectly, then you're golden, and you can continue on with finishing up the installation.

Synonyms

(color of or like gold): see goldish § Synonyms

Derived terms

a golden key can open any door
American golden plover
Asiatic golden cat
Eurasian golden plover
golden age
golden-ager
golden ager
golden alexanders
golden Alexanders
golden alga
golden anniversary
golden aster
golden balls
golden bamboo
golden beardgrass
golden beetle
golden berry
golden billion
golden boot
golden boy
golden brown
golden bull
golden calf
goldencarpet
golden chain
golden-cheeked warbler
golden child
golden club
golden conebush
golden contact
golden crab
golden-crested wren
golden cup
golden cypress
Golden Delicious
golden dewdrop
golden doodle
golden duck
golden eagle
golden egg bug
goldeneye
golden falcon name
Golden Fleece
golden fruit dove
Golden Gate Bridge
golden girl
golden glow
golden goal
golden goodbye
golden goose
golden grease
golden hamster
golden handcuffs
golden handshake
golden hawksbeard
golden-headed cisticola
golden hello
Golden Horde
Golden Horn
Golden Horseshoe
Golden Horus name
golden hour
golden image
golden jackal
golden jade
golden jubilee
golden kelp
golden king crab
golden larch
golden lion tamarin
golden marcasite
golden master
golden mean
golden milk
golden mole
golden monkey
golden nematode
golden number
golden oldie
golden opinions
golden opportunity
golden oriole
golden palace monkey
golden parachute
golden passport
golden pea
golden penda
golden perch
golden pheasant
Golden Plains
golden plover
golden potto
golden rain
golden rain tree
golden raisin
golden ratio
golden record
golden rectangle
golden retriever
golden rice
golden robin
goldenrod
golden rule
golden saxifrage
goldenseal
golden section
golden set
golden share
golden shiner
golden-shouldered parrot
golden shower
golden shower boy
golden shower queen
golden shower tree
golden silk orb-weaver
golden skirt
golden slam
golden sombrero
golden spike
golden spiral
golden staph
golden star tunicate
Golden State
golden syrup
golden thread
golden ticket
golden toad
golden tortoise beetle
golden touch
golden triangle
Golden Valley County
golden visa
golden wattle
golden wedding, golden wedding anniversary
golden whistler
golden wonder killifish
golden years
golden-yellow
kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
mangrove golden whistler
red-legged golden orb-weaver spider
silence is golden
speech is silver, silence is golden

Translations

made of, or relating to, gold

Afrikaans: goue (af)
Arabic: ذَهَبِيّ‎ (ḏahabiyy)
Armenian: ոսկե (hy) (oske)
Assamese: সোণৰ (xünor), সুণীয়া (xunia)
Belarusian: залаты́ (zalatý)
Bulgarian: зла́тен (bg) (zláten)
Buryat: алтан (altan)
Catalan: d'or m, daurat (ca)
Cebuano: bulawanon
Chinese:
Mandarin: 金的 (zh) (jīn de), 黃金的／黄金的 (zh) (huángjīn de)
Czech: zlatý (cs)
Danish: gylden
Dutch: gouden (nl)
Finnish: kultainen (fi)
French: d'or (fr), en or
Galician: de ouro m
Georgian: ოქროსი (okrosi)
German: golden (de), gülden (de)
Gothic: 𐌲𐌿𐌻𐌸𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (gulþeins)
Greek: χρυσός (el) m (chrysós)
Ancient: χρύσεος (khrúseos), χρυσοῦς (khrusoûs) (contracted form)
Hebrew: מוזהב‎ m
Ingrian: kultain
Irish: órga
Italian: d'oro (it)
Japanese: 黄金の (ja) (おうごんの, ōgon no), 金の (ja) (きんの, kin no)
Kazakh: алтын (kk) (altyn)
Korean: 금의 (ko) (geumui), 황금의 (ko) (hwanggeumui)
Latin: aureus (la)
Macedonian: златен (zlaten)
Middle English: golden, gilden
Navajo: óola bee ályaa
Norwegian: gyllen (no)
Old Turkic: 𐰞𐱃𐰆𐰣‎ (altun)
Persian: طلایی‎ (fa) (talâyi), زرین‎ (fa) (zarrin)
Plautdietsch: golden
Polish: złoty (pl)
Portuguese: de ouro, dourado (pt), áureo (pt), doirado (pt)
Romanian: de aur, din aur, aurit (ro)
Russian: золото́й (ru) (zolotój)
Sanskrit: कञ्चन (kañcana)
Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: златан
Roman: zlatan (sh)
Slovak: zlatý
Slovene: zlaten
Sorbian:
Lower Sorbian: złoty
Spanish: de oro (es) (made of gold), áureo (es) (made of gold) (poetic)
Swedish: gyllene (sv)
Telugu: బంగారు (te) (baṅgāru)
Turkish: altın (tr)
Ukrainian: золоти́й (uk) (zolotýj)
Welsh: euraidd, euraid (cy)
Yiddish: גאָלדן‎ (goldn), גילדן‎ (gildn), גילדערן‎ (gildern)

having a colour or other richness suggestive of gold

Afrikaans: goue (af)
Assamese: সোণালী (xünali)
Bulgarian: зла́тен (bg) (zláten)
Catalan: , daurada (ca) f, daurat (ca) m
Cebuano: bulawanon
Chinese:
Mandarin: 金色的 (zh) (jīnsè de)
Danish: gylden, gylden
Dutch: gouden (nl), goudkleurig (nl)
Esperanto: ora (eo)
Finnish: kultainen (fi), kullankeltainen (fi)
French: doré (fr)
Galician: dourado (gl) m, louro (gl)
Georgian: ოქროსფერი (okrosperi)
German: golden (de), gülden (de)
Greek: χρυσός (el) m (chrysós), χρυσαφένιος (el) m (chrysafénios)
Hebrew: זהוב‎ (he) (zahóv)
Italian: dorato (it)
Latin: inauratus, aurosus
Malay: keemasan
Middle English: golden, gilden
Navajo: óolago naashchʼąąʼ
Norwegian: gyllen (no)
Occitan: daurat (oc)
Persian: طلایی‎ (fa) (talâyi), زرگون‎ (fa) (zarrgun)
Plautdietsch: golden
Polish: złoty (pl) m, złocisty (pl) m
Portuguese: dourado (pt), áureo (pt)
Romanian: auriu (ro)
Russian: золото́й (ru) (zolotój), золоти́стый (ru) (zolotístyj)
Sorbian:
Lower Sorbian: złoty
Spanish: dorado (es)
Swedish: gyllene (sv)
Yiddish: גאָלדן‎ (goldn), גילדן‎ (gildn), גילדערן‎ (gildern)

marked by prosperity, creativity, etc.

Afrikaans: gulde
Catalan: daurat (ca) m
Danish: gylden
Finnish: kulta- (fi)
Galician: dourado (gl) m
German: golden (de)
Greek: χρυσός (el) m (chrysós)
Italian: d'oro (it)
Latin: aureus (la)
Middle English: golden, gilden
Norwegian: gyllen (no)
Polish: złoty (pl) m
Portuguese: dourado (pt), áureo (pt)
Romanian: prosper (ro), de aur
Russian: золото́й (ru) (zolotój)
Spanish: dorado (es), de oro
Swedish: gyllene (sv), gyllene (sv)

advantageous or very favourable

Afrikaans: gulde
Catalan: d'or
Danish: gylden
Finnish: tuhannen taalan
French: en or
Galician: de ouro m
German: golden (de)
Greek: χρυσός (el) m (chrysós)
Italian: d'oro (it)
Latin: aureus (la)
Norwegian: gyllen (no)
Polish: wielki (pl) m
Portuguese: de ouro
Romanian: favorabil (ro), norocos (ro), de aur
Swedish: gyllene (sv)

relating to a fiftieth anniversary

Afrikaans: goue (af), goue (af)
Bulgarian: зла́тен (bg) (zláten)
Catalan: d'or
Cebuano: bulawanon
Finnish: kulta- (fi)
French: d'or (fr)
Galician: de ouro m
Italian: d'oro (it)
Latin: aureus (la)
Polish: złoty (pl) m
Romanian: de aur
Spanish: de oro

Noun

golden (plural goldens)

Kyphosus vaigiensis, a fish found in southeast Asia.
Ellipsis of golden retriever.
- 1995, Jaime J. Sucher, Golden Retrievers, Barron’s, →ISBN, page 76:
  The archives of the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) record goldens in the United States as early as the 1890s.
- 2017, Linda Bozzo, I Like Golden Retrievers! (Discover Dogs with the American Canine Association), Enslow Publishing, pages 4 and 15:
  Golden retrievers, or goldens, make great family pets. […] Goldens should be brushed regularly.
- 2019, Sarah Frank, Golden Retrievers, Lerner Publishing Group, page 6:
  Throw a toy into the water, and watch your golden go for it!
- 2021, Marcie Aboff, Fast Facts About Golden Retrievers (Fast Facts About Dogs), Raintree, Capstone Global Library Limited, →ISBN, page 13:
  People like petting goldens.

Etymology 2

From gold +‎ -en, or perhaps a derivation from the adjective above.

Verb

golden (third-person singular simple present goldens, present participle goldening, simple past and past participle goldened)

(intransitive) To become gold or golden (in colour).
(transitive) To make golden or like gold.
- 1994, Marion H. Hedges, Iron City:
  It goldened, as nothing else goldened, the commonplace countryside.

Translations

To become golden

Afrikaans: vergoud
Catalan: daurar-se
Hebrew: להזהיב‎

To make golden or like gold

Afrikaans: vergoud
Portuguese: dourar (pt), doirar (pt) (Portugal)

Anagrams

Delong, dongle, longed

Dutch

Pronunciation

Audio (file)
Rhymes: -ɔldən

Verb

golden

plural past indicative and subjunctive of gelden

Anagrams

dongel, gondel

German

Alternative forms

gülden (archaic, poetic)
gulden, gölden (obsolete)

Etymology

Common since the 18th century. Alteration (after Gold (“gold”)) of older gulden, gülden, from Middle High German guldīn, güldīn, from Old High German guldīn, from Proto-Germanic *gulþīnaz. Equivalent to Gold +‎ -en. Cognate with Dutch gulden, gouden, English golden.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɡɔldən/
audio (Germany) (file)
audio (Germany) (file)
audio (Austria) (file)
Hyphenation: gol‧den

Adjective

golden (strong nominative masculine singular goldener, comparative goldener, superlative am goldensten)

golden; gold (made of gold)
golden (gold-coloured)

Declension

Positive forms of golden

number & gender		singular			plural
number & gender		masculine	feminine	neuter	all genders
predicative		er ist golden	sie ist golden	es ist golden	sie sind golden
strong declension (without article)	nominative	goldener	goldene	goldenes	goldene
	genitive	goldenen	goldener	goldenen	goldener
	dative	goldenem	goldener	goldenem	goldenen
	accusative	goldenen	goldene	goldenes	goldene
weak declension (with definite article)	nominative	der goldene	die goldene	das goldene	die goldenen
	genitive	des goldenen	der goldenen	des goldenen	der goldenen
	dative	dem goldenen	der goldenen	dem goldenen	den goldenen
	accusative	den goldenen	die goldene	das goldene	die goldenen
mixed declension (with indefinite article)	nominative	ein goldener	eine goldene	ein goldenes	(keine) goldenen
	genitive	eines goldenen	einer goldenen	eines goldenen	(keiner) goldenen
	dative	einem goldenen	einer goldenen	einem goldenen	(keinen) goldenen
	accusative	einen goldenen	eine goldene	ein goldenes	(keine) goldenen

Comparative forms of golden

number & gender		singular			plural
number & gender		masculine	feminine	neuter	all genders
predicative		er ist goldener	sie ist goldener	es ist goldener	sie sind goldener
strong declension (without article)	nominative	goldenerer	goldenere	goldeneres	goldenere
	genitive	goldeneren	goldenerer	goldeneren	goldenerer
	dative	goldenerem	goldenerer	goldenerem	goldeneren
	accusative	goldeneren	goldenere	goldeneres	goldenere
weak declension (with definite article)	nominative	der goldenere	die goldenere	das goldenere	die goldeneren
	genitive	des goldeneren	der goldeneren	des goldeneren	der goldeneren
	dative	dem goldeneren	der goldeneren	dem goldeneren	den goldeneren
	accusative	den goldeneren	die goldenere	das goldenere	die goldeneren
mixed declension (with indefinite article)	nominative	ein goldenerer	eine goldenere	ein goldeneres	(keine) goldeneren
	genitive	eines goldeneren	einer goldeneren	eines goldeneren	(keiner) goldeneren
	dative	einem goldeneren	einer goldeneren	einem goldeneren	(keinen) goldeneren
	accusative	einen goldeneren	eine goldenere	ein goldeneres	(keine) goldeneren

Superlative forms of golden

number & gender		singular			plural
number & gender		masculine	feminine	neuter	all genders
predicative		er ist am goldensten	sie ist am goldensten	es ist am goldensten	sie sind am goldensten
strong declension (without article)	nominative	goldenster	goldenste	goldenstes	goldenste
	genitive	goldensten	goldenster	goldensten	goldenster
	dative	goldenstem	goldenster	goldenstem	goldensten
	accusative	goldensten	goldenste	goldenstes	goldenste
weak declension (with definite article)	nominative	der goldenste	die goldenste	das goldenste	die goldensten
	genitive	des goldensten	der goldensten	des goldensten	der goldensten
	dative	dem goldensten	der goldensten	dem goldensten	den goldensten
	accusative	den goldensten	die goldenste	das goldenste	die goldensten
mixed declension (with indefinite article)	nominative	ein goldenster	eine goldenste	ein goldenstes	(keine) goldensten
	genitive	eines goldensten	einer goldensten	eines goldensten	(keiner) goldensten
	dative	einem goldensten	einer goldensten	einem goldensten	(keinen) goldensten
	accusative	einen goldensten	eine goldenste	ein goldenstes	(keine) goldensten

Synonyms

(in predicative use) aus Gold
(in attributive use) Gold-

Derived terms

Goldener Schnitt
Goldene Zahl
goldenes Herz
Gulden

Middle English

Alternative forms

goldene, goldyn, goldin, goldun, goldyng, goldein, gowuldyn, colden, coldin

Etymology

From gilden, reformed by analogy with gold.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɡɔldən/, /ˈɡoːldən/

Adjective

golden

Formed from gold.
Decorated or covered with gold.
Having a golden colour.
(figurative) Of excellent quality or worth; precious, best.

Descendants

English: golden
Scots: gowden

References

“gōlden, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 27 April 2018.

Plautdietsch

Adjective

golden

golden

golden

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Adjective

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

Etymology 2

Verb

Translations

Anagrams

Dutch

Pronunciation

Verb

Anagrams

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Declension

Synonyms

Derived terms

See also

Further reading

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Descendants

See also

References

Plautdietsch

Adjective