Need a shiny word to bust out at your next disco party, planetarium visit, or fireworks gathering? How about effulgence? It’s not a shiny "new" word, having made its English language debut in the 17th century, but it does come from the Latin verb fulgēre, meaning "to shine." Effulgence isn’t used for bog-standard brightness, however; it’s reserved for shininess that dazzles, inspires, leaves you gobsmacked—in other words, "radiant splendor."
the exceptional effulgence of the harvest moon is always a striking sight
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Though the Star of Bethlehem has sunk, yet its sacred effulgence beams forth periodically, again and again, and a universe is filled with joy in honor of the Great Redeemer.—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 23 Dec. 2024 Maggie Rogers paired her of-the-moment shag with natural notes—bare skin, freckles, grass—as elsewhere, Elle Fanning enjoyed the lit effects of golden hour, which took her complexion and blanched blonde to new levels of effulgence.—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 10 July 2022 Absent from Van Noten’s three-decade career are stories of bankruptcy, strife, irresponsibility, overleverage, overexpansion, overspending or unhinged, dangerous effulgence.—Hanya Yanagihara, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2017
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Late Latin effulgentia "radiance," noun derivative of Latin effulgent-, effulgens, present participle of effulgēre "to shine or blaze forth, flash," from ef-, variant before f of ex-ex- entry 1 + fulgēre "to shine brightly, flash, lighten" — more at phlegm
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