Skip to content

Table of Contents

The word for today is…

coruscate (verb):

1: to give off or reflect light in bright beams or flashes : sparkle
2: to be brilliant or showy in technique or style

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : This formal-sounding synonym of sparkle comes from the Latin verb coruscare, meaning "to flash." Originally, coruscate was used only literally, applied when things—such as, well, shining stars—glitter or gleam, as when Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote in his 1852 short story about a scarecrow, "Feathertop," that "the star kept coruscating on Feathertop's breast…." Eventually, coruscate gained figurative use, applying to those human shining stars who may be said to have a "coruscating wit" or "coruscating brilliance," or to things (such as satires, performances, or prose) that are metaphorically brilliant.

If you enjoyed this Good Oil word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.

Latest