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Triumph vs Trophy - What's the difference?

triumph | trophy |

As nouns the difference between triumph and trophy

is that triumph is a conclusive success following an effort, conflict, or confrontation of obstacles; victory; conquest while trophy is tropæum.

As a verb triumph

is to celebrate victory with pomp; to rejoice over success; to exult in an advantage gained; to exhibit exultation.

triumph

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) triumphe , from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A conclusive success following an effort, conflict, or confrontation of obstacles; victory; conquest.
  • the triumph of knowledge
  • A magnificent and imposing ceremonial performed in honor of a victor.
  • (obsolete) Any triumphal procession; a pompous exhibition; a stately show or pageant.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Our daughter, / In honour of whose birth these triumphs are, / Sits here, like beauty's child.
  • A state of joy or exultation at success.
  • * Milton
  • Great triumph and rejoicing was in heaven.
  • * Dryden
  • Hercules from Spain / Arrived in triumph , from Geryon slain.
  • (obsolete) A trump card.
  • A card game, also called trump.
  • (historical, Ancient Rome) a ceremony held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military achievement of an army commander.
  • A work of art, cuisine, etc. of very high quality.
  • Scorsese's latest film is a triumph .
    This wedding cake is a triumph .

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To celebrate victory with pomp; to rejoice over success; to exult in an advantage gained; to exhibit exultation.
  • * Bible, Psalms xciv. 3
  • How long shall the wicked triumph ?
  • * Shakespeare
  • Sorrow on thee and all the pack of you / That triumph thus upon my misery!
  • To prevail over rivals, challenges, or difficulties.
  • To succeed, win, or attain ascendancy.
  • * Macaulay
  • On this occasion, however, genius triumphed.
  • To be prosperous; to flourish.
  • * Trumbull
  • where commerce triumphed on the favouring gales
  • To play a trump in a card game.
  • (Ben Jonson)

    trophy

    English

    Noun

    (trophies)
  • .
  • An object, usually in the form of a statuette, cup, or shield, awarded for success in a competition or to mark a special achievement.
  • He won the trophy in a running competition.
  • An object taken as a prize by a hunter or conqueror, especially one that is displayed.
  • * Dryden
  • Around the posts hung helmets, darts, and spears, / And captive chariots, axes, shields, and bars, / And broken beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars.
    The set of antlers which hung on the wall was his prized trophy .
  • Any emblem of success; a status symbol.
  • His trophies included his second wife, his successful children, the third and fourth homes in Palm Beach and Malibu, his three yachts (for the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean), his jet, and his mistresses.
  • (criminology, by extension) An object taken by a serial killer or rapist as a memento of the crime.
  • * 1994 , Philip Jenkins, Using Murder: The Social Construction of Serial Homicide [http://books.google.com/books?id=nhXmk3Tm-SQC], ISBN 0202305252, page 117:
  • The souvenirs which many killers retain of their victims are often described as trophies , and Norman Bates's taxidermic interests derived from the real-life Ed Gein.
  • * 2001 , R. Michael Gordon, Alias Jack the Ripper: Beyond the Usual Whitechapel Suspects [http://books.google.com/books?id=n5PWnVtQs4MC], ISBN 0786408987, page 82:
  • A trophy from this murder would have been of great importance.
  • * 2004 , Ronald F. Becker, Criminal Investigation [http://books.google.com/books?id=YDGaGSdjc6kC], ISBN 0763731684, page 168:
  • The offender is also likely to mentally relive his killings, often with the help of souvenirs or trophies , such as a bracelet or a body part taken from the victim.

    Derived terms

    * trophy money * trophy wife

    See also

    * -trophy (suffix)