Word of the Day

: February 10, 2010

effulgence

noun ih-FULL-junss

What It Means

: radiant splendor : brilliance

effulgence in Context

The effulgence of the moon in the clear midnight sky provided enough light to help us safely make our way home.

Did You Know?

Apparently, English speakers first took a shine to "effulgence" in the middle of the 17th century; that's when the word was first used in print in our language. "Effulgence" derives from the Latin verb "fulgēre," which means "to shine." "Fulgēre" is also the root of "fulgent," a synonym of "radiant" that English speakers have used since the 15th century. Another related word, "refulgence," is about 30 years older than "effulgence." "Refulgence" carries a meaning similar to "effulgence" but sometimes goes further by implying reflectivity, as in "the refulgence of the knight’s gleaming armor."