effulgent
adjective

- primarily describes something that shines with brilliant light. It can be used both literally and figuratively

- referring to physical radiance, such as sunlight, a glowing object, or bright stars

- describing a person, idea, or feeling that radiates brilliance, positivity, or excellence

Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

The word 'effulgent' is derived from the Latin verb effulgēre, meaning 'to shine forth' or 'to radiate.' The prefix ex- ('out' or 'forth') becomes ef- through a process called assimilation, blending smoothly with the root fulgēre ('to shine')."

The Latin effulgentia (brightness, radiance) evolved into Middle French as effulgence and later entered English as "effulgent" in the 17th century.

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TWINKLE, TWINKLE!

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!”

When we sing “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” to children, we're doing more than just helping them fall asleep, we’re introducing them to modern physics and the astonishing fact that the light of stars began its journey millions—even billions—of years ago. Many of the stars we see above us now no longer exist!

The universe reminds us that brilliance often takes time to land—whether it’s distant starlight, a new idea, or even a personal success. Although our efforts may not be immediately visible, their effects ripple into the future. So, when life feels a lttle dim, it’s worth remembering that the light we cast today may brighten someone else's future,... no matter how far away they are.

“Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.”

It makes one think, does it not?

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

ablaze, aglow, alight, as bright as a supernova, as bright as day, beaming, beamy, bedazzling, blazing, bright as a button (as a new penny, as morning dew, a supernova), bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, brilliant, burning bright, burnished, coruscating, dazzling, effervescent, EFFULGENT, emitting light, eye-catching, flaming, flashing, full of light, gleaming, glimmering, glistening, glittering, glorious, glowing, incandescent, intense, lambent, light, light-filled, like a beacon in the night (a candle in the dark, a diamond in the night, a lighthouse on a stormy sea, a torch in the darkness), lit (from within), lucent, luminescent, luminous, lustrous, outshining the sun, phosphorescent, pure light, radiant, radiating, refulgent, resplendent, scintillating, shimmering, shining, shining bright, shining (like the sun), shiny, sparkling, splendid, star-like, sunlit, twinkling, vibrant, vivid

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“The Latin etymology of EFFULGENT reminds us that English has a lot to thank the Romans for.”

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D

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Paul, Helga, & Jenny Smith

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