lucid

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adjective lu·cid \ˈlü-səd\

Definition of lucid

1a : suffused with light : luminousb : translucent snorkeling in the lucid sea
2 : having full use of one's faculties : sane
3 : clear to the understanding : intelligible

lucidly

adverb

lucidness

noun

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Examples of lucid in a Sentence

His lucid history of this grim subject is scrupulously accurate, so far as I am able to judge … —Richard A. Posner, New Republic, 8 Apr 2002
“You would like me to read to you?” “You would oblige me greatly by doing so, Dorothea,” said Mr. Casaubon, with a shade more meekness than usual in his polite manner. “I am wakeful: my mind is remarkably lucid.” —George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1872
The atmosphere, seen through a short space of half or three-quarters of a mile, was perfectly lucid, but at a greater distance all colours were blended into a most beautiful haze … —Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle, 1839
The stroke also set off a major crisis of presidential succession, as the debilitated and not entirely lucid president continued to cling to office and plan feebly for re-election. —Beverly Gage New York Times Book Review, 13 Dec 2009
He is able to recognize his wife in his lucid moments.
those lucid bands that spread across the arctic sky and are known as the northern lights

Recent Examples of lucid from the Web

Mr. Salonen drew sensitive and colorful yet refined and lucid playing from the orchestra.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Review: Esa-Pekka Salonen Brings Mahler to Carnegie, Ever So Coolly", 1 June 2017
The Sheffield duo's latest album is its most lucid to date, but its piercing percussion blasts, distorted mechanical clattering, and synthesized ambient riffs still border on sonic dystopia.

— wired staff, WIRED, "reviews", 1 May 2003

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lucid'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Shine a Light on the Origin of Lucid

It's easy enough to shed some light on the origins of lucid: it derives—via the Latin adjective lucidus, meaning "shining"—from the Latin verb lucēre, meaning "to shine." Lucid has been used by English speakers since at least the late 16th century. Originally, it meant merely "filled with light" or "shining," but it has since developed extended senses describing someone whose mind is clear or something with a clear meaning. Other shining examples of lucēre descendants include translucent, lucent ("glowing"), and the somewhat rarer relucent ("reflecting light" or "shining"). Even the word light itself derives from the same ancient word that led to lucēre.

Origin and Etymology of lucid

Latin lucidus, from lucēre —see lucent

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First Known Use: 1591

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Synonym Discussion of lucid

clear, perspicuous, lucid mean quickly and easily understood. clear implies freedom from obscurity, ambiguity, or undue complexity. clear instructions perspicuous applies to a style that is simple and elegant as well as clear. a perspicuous style lucid suggests a clear logical coherence and evident order of arrangement. a lucid explanation