Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TRI'UMPH, n. [Fr. triomphe; It. trionfo; Sp. triunfo; L. triumphus; Gr. θριαμβος.]

1. Among the ancient Romans, a pompous ceremony performed in honor of a victorious general, who was allowed to enter the city crowned, originally with laurel, but in later times with gold, bearing a truncheon in one hand and a branch of laurel in the other, riding in a chariot drawn by two white horses, and followed by the kings, princes, and generals whom he had vanquished, loaded with chains and insulted by mimics and buffoons. The triumph was of two kinds, the greater and the less. The lesser triumph was granted for a victory over enemies of less considerable power, and was called an ovation.
2. State of being victorious. Hercules from Spain / Arriv'd in triumph, from Geryon slain. Dryden.
3. Victory; conquest. The vain coquets the trifling triumphs boast. Logie.
4. Joy or exultation for success. Great triumph and rejoicing was in heav'n. Milton.
5. A card that takes all others; now written trump, – which see.