Splendent

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Glowing with a bright, dazzling radiance that catches and reflects light vividly
2. Gleaming intensely, giving off a brilliant shine that draws the eye
3. Brilliantly luminous, shining with a magnificent and striking brightness

Etymology: "Splendent" entered English in the Middle Ages as "splendaunt," borrowed from Old French, where it was a present participle of "esplendiier," meaning "to shine." Behind that lies the Latin "splendēns," the present participle of "splendēre," which likewise meant "to shine." The verb's chain of descent reaches back to the same root that gave English "splendour," so the two words are close relatives, with "splendent" keeping the older, more literal sense of shining light. The word is a good example of how a Latin verb of light could pass into English through French and be reshaped along the way. Its Middle English form already carried the sense of brilliance, and the modern spelling "splendent" was settled by later writers who looked back to the Latin ending. The core meaning has changed little since: something that gives off bright, radiant light.

Synonyms: resplendent, radiant, gleaming, brilliant, shining

Antonyms: dull, dim