Splendid

Question

Hi.Does "Splendid" also mean somthing like "excuse me"?I've seen a movie, and there was a man who lost himself beacause he gazed on something and said "capital, capital..." and then someone  told him "Splendid!" like he said "excuse me!"does it have other minnings instead of wonderful, excellent, marvelous...Thanks.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

I take this as agreement.
"Capital" in this sense is from the 30's if I'm not mistaken. You can add it to your list of superlatives. (It may be a little bit faux snobbish.)

I'd have to hear the inflections of the speakers. I'm not sure how "splendid!" was uttered. (There are many ways of saying "excuse me.!")

But I'd put all of these superlatives in the same bag.

I believe the answer to your question is, No. "Splendid" does not have meanings other than "wonderful; excellent; marvelous."

Futurist · Answer

"Splendid" and "capital" are frequently used by the British upper-class to mean simply "good" or "I'm glad to hear that". If a conversation comes to an awkward end, as the one in your example seems to have, rather than saying "Excuse me, I have to leave," one of the conversants might say "Splendid," meaning: "What you've said is good. There's nothing more to be said." If the person saying "splendid" sounded annoyed, he was probably being ironic; by splendid, he might really have been saying: "Things are anything but good. I can't believe you messed things up."

If you're not a member of the British upper or middle class, saying "splendid" or "capital" in any of the above contexts usually sounds silly or pompous. "Good", "great", or "cool" are much more common. If you're being ironic, you might say "just great!"

If you name the movie and the characters, I might be able to give you a more precise answer as to what the characters meant. The above sounds very much like the kind of on-screen conversation Colin Firth and Hugh Grant might have.

Mr Wordy · Answer

I use "splendid" in this way (but not "capital"; that sounds old-fashioned to me).

Avangi · Answer

Futurist conversation Colin Firth and Hugh Grant might have.

I can never remember the names of actors, but I'm reminded of an old Cary Grant movie with the guy who plays Dr. Watson. Cary's wife thinks he's trying to kill the old guy.

BTW, is the "British middle class" dwindling as rapidly as the American?

Splendid

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