Word of the day, 09 March 2025: 'Coruscate'

WORD OF THE DAY: Coruscate
Pronunciation
cor·​us·​cate / ˈkȯr-ə-ˌskāt /

Meaning

The word "coruscate" means to sparkle, glitter, or emit flashes of light. It is often used metaphorically to describe something or someone that is brilliant, dazzling, or intellectually vibrant

Origin

The word "coruscate" 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. It was adopted into English in the 17th century, retaining its original sense of brightness and shimmer.

History and usage

In early English usage, coruscate was primarily used to describe physical brightness, such as the sparkle of stars or the glint of polished metal. Over time, it gained a figurative sense, being applied to sharp intelligence, brilliance in speech, and striking performances.

Examples from books and articles

St. John said these words as he pronounced his sermons, with a quiet, deep voice; with an unflushed cheek, and a coruscating radiance of glance - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Without a sound, the leaves shone and the grass coruscated along the miles of the escarpment - Watership Down: A Novel by Richard Adams

Synonyms

• Glisten
• Glitter
• Shimmer
• Twinkle
• Radiate
• Scintillate
• Glow
• Gleam