What does "gilder" mean?
One who gilds; especially one whose occupation is to overlay things with gold.
Gilder
/ˈɡɪldə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who gilds; especially one whose occupation is to overlay things with gold.
- Grammar: gilder is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: gilding artisan, gold leaf worker, goldbeater, goldener.
- Usage evidence: A lady ſhould, indeed, ſtudie her face, when wee thinke ſhee ſleepes: nor, when the dores are ſhut, ſhould men bee inquiring, all is ſacred within, then. [...] you ſee guilders will not worke, but inclos'd. They muſt not diſcouer, how little ſerues, with the helpe of art, to adorne a great deale.
How to use "gilder"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gilder" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "gilder" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "gilder" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "gilder" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "gilder" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "gilding artisan" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "gilder", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who gilds; especially one whose occupation is to overlay things with gold.
"A lady ſhould, indeed, ſtudie her face, when wee thinke ſhee ſleepes: nor, when the dores are ſhut, ſhould men bee inquiring, all is ſacred within, then. [...] you ſee guilders will not worke, but inclos'd. They muſt not diſcouer, how little ſerues, with the helpe of art, to adorne a great deale."
- 2 Alternative spelling of guilder. alt-of, alternative, archaic, rare
"The enmity and diſcord which of late / Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your Duke, / To Merchants our well-dealing Countrimen, / Who wanting gilders to redeeme their liues, / Haue ſeal'd his rigorous ſtatutes with their blouds, / Excludes all pitty from our threatning lookes: [...]"
- 3 someone whose occupation is to apply an overlay of gold or gilt wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
"Albert Bigelow Paine, his biographer to be and literary executor, who has been constantly with him, said that for the last year at least Mr. Clemens had been weary of life. When Richard Watson Gilder died, he said: "How fortunate he is. No good fortune of that kind ever comes to me.""
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"A lady ſhould, indeed, ſtudie her face, when wee thinke ſhee ſleepes: nor, when the dores are ſhut, ſhould men bee inquiring, all is ſacred within, then. [...] you ſee guilders will not worke, but inclos'd. They muſt not diſcouer, how little ſerues, with the helpe of art, to adorne a great deale."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gilder"?
Common synonyms include: gilding artisan, gold leaf worker, goldbeater, goldener, leafing craftsman.
How do you use "gilder" in a sentence?
A lady ſhould, indeed, ſtudie her face, when wee thinke ſhee ſleepes: nor, when the dores are ſhut, ſhould men bee inquiring, all is ſacred within, then. [...] you ſee guilders will not worke, but inclos'd. They muſt not diſcouer, how little ſerues, with the helpe of art, to adorne a great deale.
How do you pronounce "gilder"?
Pronounced /ˈɡɪldə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English gilder (“gilder; goldsmith”) [and other forms], from gilden (“to cover with gilding, gild; to decorate with gold”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- (“green, yellow”)) + -er, -ere (suffix forming agent nouns, especially the names of persons engaged in professions or trades); analysable as gild + -er.
Etymology 2
From Middle English gilder (“any of various coins (originally gold), especially in use in Flanders, Germany and Holland”) [and other forms], from Middle Dutch gulden, Middle Low German gulden (“guilder”), influenced by Middle English gilden (“made of gold; covered or decorated with gold; of a gold colour; wealthy; glorious; precious; blessed, happy; relating to the middle way or mean”).