Resplendently

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that radiates exceptional brightness and beauty
2. In a manner that shines brightly with impressive beauty and elegance
3. Expressing an appearance or quality that dazzles with vivid brilliance and charm

Etymology: Resplendently is simply resplendent with the adverbial suffix -ly attached. Resplendent came into English from Latin "resplendens", the present participle of "resplendere", meaning to shine brightly again or back, built from "re-" and "splendere", to shine. That Latin root is the same one behind "splendid" and "splendour", so the three words share a common core of brightness. The suffix has a longer ancestry than the base word. It traces back through Proto-Germanic "-līkaz", meaning having the form or appearance of, which is also the source of "like" in its older sense of similar in form. Old English reshaped it into "-līċe", and Middle English later wore it down to "-ly", the ending now found on thousands of adverbs. Put together, resplendently describes an action done in a manner that is brilliantly bright or dazzling in appearance.

Synonyms: brilliantly, radiantly, dazzlingly, luminously, gleamingly