Coruscates

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Gives off bright, flashing light or sparkles as if shimmering
2. Shines with a brilliant, flickering gleam creating a sparkling effect
3. Sends out sudden bursts of light that produce a sparkling or glittering appearance

Etymology: "Coruscates" is the third-person singular form of "coruscate," so it shares its origin with the verb itself. That verb comes from the Latin "coruscatus," the past participle of "coruscare," meaning to flash or gleam. The Latin root has a sense of quivering or glittering motion, and the English verb keeps that sense of light that seems to move and sparkle rather than hold steady. English formed the verb by adding the suffix "-ate" to the Latin stem, a common pattern for verbs borrowed from Latin. The result is a word that sounds grander than its everyday neighbours, which is part of why it turns up so often in descriptions of gems, water, and sharp wit.

Synonyms: sparkles, glitters, shimmers, twinkles, flickers

Antonyms: dull, fade, darken, obscure, cloud