Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
GLORY
I. noun (plural glories)
Etymology: Middle English glorie, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin gloria
Date: 14th century
1. praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent ; renown , worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving ,
2. something that secures praise or renown , a distinguished quality or asset,
3. a. great beauty and splendor ; magnificence , something marked by beauty or resplendence , the splendor and beatific happiness of heaven,
4. a state of great gratification or exaltation , a height of prosperity or achievement, a ring or spot of light: as, aureole , a halo appearing around the shadow of an object,
II. intransitive verb (gloried; glorying)
Date: 14th century
to rejoice proudly,
III. interjection or glory be
Date: 1816
— used to express surprise or delight