Category:Tall

Tall, a. [compar. Taller; superl. Tallest.] Etym: [oe. tal seemly, Elegant, docile; of uncertain origin; cf. As. un-tala, un-tale, bad, Goth. untals indocile, disobedient, uninstructed, or w. & corn. tal High, ir. talla meet, fit, proper, just.]

1. High in stature; having a considerable, or an unusual, extension Upward; long and comparatively slender; having the diameter or Lateral extent small in proportion to the height; as, a tall person, Tree, or mast. Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall. Milton.

2. Brave; bold; courageous. [obs.] As tall a trencherman as e'er demolished a pye fortification. Massinger. His companions, being almost in despair of victory, were suddenly Recomforted by sir william stanley, which came to succors with three Thousand tall men. Grafton.

3. Fine; splendid; excellent; also, extravagant; excessive. [obs. or Slang] b. Jonson.

Syn. -- high; lofty. -- tall, high, lofty. High is the generic term, and is applied to Anything which is elevated or raised above another thing. Tall Specifically describes that which has a small diameter in proportion To its height; hence, we speak of a tall man, a tall steeple, a tall Mast, etc., but not of a tall hill. Lofty has a special reference to The expanse above us, and denotes an imposing height; as, a lofty Mountain; a lofty room. Tall is now properly applied only to physical Objects; high and lofty have a moral acceptation; as, high thought, Purpose, etc.; lofty aspirations; a lofty genius. Lofty is the Stronger word, and is usually coupled with the grand or admirable.