Word of the Day

: August 30, 2022

effulgence

noun ih-FULL-junss

What It Means

Effulgence means "radiant splendor" or "brilliance."

// The state capitol's golden dome shone with brilliant effulgence in the late afternoon light.

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effulgence in Context

"His oil portrait silently observed us. His brother Robert who painted it didn't go for the obvious choice and recreate Dad's life-of-the-party effulgence, but instead captured his pensive look, as if he's listening intensely to what you are asking, and he may or may not answer you." — Jamie Brickhouse, The Huffington Post, 21 June 2022

Did You Know?

Need a shiny word to bust out at your next disco party, planetarium visit, or fireworks gathering? How about effulgence? It’s not a shiny "new" word, having made its English language debut in the 17th century, but it does come from the Latin verb fulgēre, meaning "to shine." Effulgence isn’t used for bog-standard brightness, however; it’s reserved for shininess that dazzles, inspires, leaves you gobsmacked—in other words, "radiant splendor."