Outbeamed

Part of speech: verb, past tense, past participle

Definitions

1. To emit a greater intensity or amount of radiant energy or light than another source, surpassing in brightness or brilliance
2. To shine with superior luminosity or glow more powerfully compared to a rival; to exceed another's radiance or beam strength
3. To project light or energy at a higher level than someone else, outshining or overtopping in emitted brilliance or visible shine

Etymology: "Outbeamed" is the past tense and past participle of "outbeam," a verb formed from "out-" and "beam." The prefix "out-" in English often means "surpassing" or "exceeding," as in "outrun" or "outdo," and here it attaches to "beam," a word whose earlier sense was a ray or shaft of light before it came to mean a broad smile or a steady stream of radio signal. Combining the two gives a plain, literal sense: one light source sends out a more intense radiance than another and so outshines it. The word is a transparent compound rather than a borrowing, so its history lies in the productive English habit of pairing "out-" with a verb or noun to mark superiority. Its precise date of first use is not something I can confirm.

Synonyms: outshined, outshone, outglowed

Antonyms: dimmed, outfaced