lofty

Etymology

From Middle English lofty, lofti, lofte (“of high rank; noble; ornate”), equivalent to loft + -y; see loft (“sky, firmament; upper room”).

adj

1. high, tall, having great height or stature
   On my left was a river, which came roaring down from a range of lofty mountains right before me to the south-east. 1862, George Borrow, chapter 98, in Wild Wales, archived from the original on 2011-12-24
   When the night was half spent, I rose and walked on, till the day broke in all its beauty and the sun rose over the heads of the lofty hills and athwart the low gravelly plains. 1885, Richard F. Burton, “Night 551”, in The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night
2. idealistic, implying over-optimism
   a lofty goal
   A goal from Steven Caulker, just after the hour mark, was enough to hand victory to Malky Mackay's men, with Swansea falling some way short of the lofty standards they have set previously at this level. 3 November 2013, Delme Parfitt, “Cardiff City 1 - 0 Swansea City: Steven Caulker heads Bluebirds to South Wales derby win”, in Wales Online
3. extremely proud; arrogant; haughty
   that lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their grandfathers 1886, Frederic Harrison, The Choice of Books