Effulgentia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Radiating intense brightness or brilliance ; possessing a dazzling quality like shining light
2. Marked by a vivid or resplendent radiance ; displaying splendid or overwhelming luminosity
3. Characterized by emitting a powerful, gleaming shine ; embodying a vivid effulgence or radiant glow

Etymology: The root is the Latin verb "fulgere," to flash or gleam. It also produced "fulgur," meaning lightning, and English kept that sense in words like "fulgurate," to flash like lightning. The core image is a sudden blaze rather than a steady glow. The prefix "ex-," which became "ef-" before the f, adds the sense of light pouring outward from within. Latin built "effulgentia" from "effulgere," to shine forth, and English took the idea over as "effulgence," meaning radiance streaming out from a source. Intensity is built into the root, which is why the term suits sunlight or a dazzling halo better than a dim lamp.

Synonyms: radiance, brilliance, splendor, glow

Antonyms: dullness, darkness, dimness