rayonnant

adjective

ray·​on·​nant

ˈrāənənt

1

: depicted with rays darting forth

—used especially in heraldry

a sun rayonnant

2

: characterized by the use of radiating lines (as in window tracery)

—used of a French Gothic architectural style of the 14th century

Word History

Etymology

French, from present participle of rayonner to radiate, from Middle French, from rayon ray

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!