Resplendent

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈsplɛn.dənt/

Definitions

1. Brilliantly shining or glowing with vivid colors; magnificent and impressive in appearance
2. Exuding a brilliant shine and vibrant colors, this quality embodies an impressive and striking visual allure
3. Glowing with radiant colors that capture attention perfectly ; exhibiting a grandeur that commands admiration by its beauty

Etymology: "Resplendent" is built from the Latin "resplendere," meaning "to shine back" or "glitter," with the prefix "re-" (back, again) attached to "splendere," "to shine." The English adjective follows the same pattern: "re-" plus "splend-" plus the suffix "-ent," which turns the verb-root into an adjective meaning "shining" or "full of brightness." There is also an older route that runs alongside it. English once had a verb "splendish," meaning "to shine," which came from the Latin "splendere." That verb has since dropped out of use, but it shows that the core idea of the word has always been light and gleam. Whether "resplendent" grew directly from the Latin compound or was shaped by the English "resplend" plus "-ent," the meaning stays the same: something that catches the light and throws it back.

Synonyms: radiant, brilliant, luminous, glorious, magnificent

Antonyms: dull, dim, lackluster, unremarkable