Word of the Day

: June 18, 2007

resplendent

adjective rih-SPLEN-dunt

What It Means

: shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor

resplendent in Context

Zoo visitors excitedly snapped pictures of the peacock fanning his resplendent tail.

Did You Know?

"Resplendent" has a lot in common with "splendid" ("shining, brilliant"), "splendent" ("shining, glossy"), and "splendor" ("brightness or luster"). Each of those glowing terms gets its shine from the Latin verb "splendēre" ("to shine"). Etymologists believe "splendēre" might also be related to Middle Irish "lainn," meaning "bright." "Splendent," "splendor," and "resplendent" first showed their lustrous senses in English during the 15th century, but "splendid" didn't show up until over 175 years later; its earliest known use dates from 1624.