refulgent

American  

[ri-fuhl-juhnt] / rɪˈfʌl dʒənt /

adjective

1. shining brightly; radiant; gleaming.

   Crystal chandeliers and gilded walls made the opera house a refulgent setting for the ball.

2. very attractive or impressive; dazzling; brilliant.

   His refulgent smile brightened the day of everyone who saw it.

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refulgent British  

/ rɪˈfʌldʒənt /

adjective

1. literary shining, brilliant, or radiant

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unrefulgent
  adjective
• refulgently
  adverb
• refulgentness
  noun
• refulgency
  noun
• unrefulgently
  adverb
• refulgence
  noun

Etymology

Origin of refulgent

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin refulgent-, stem of refulgēns, present participle of refulgēre “to radiate light”; see re-, fulgent

Explanation

If someone tells you that you have refulgent eyes, they mean that your eyes shine brightly, like the stars. This suggests that your special someone is the poetic type, since refulgent is a literary way of saying "bright." The adjective refulgent comes from the Latin fulgere, meaning "to shine." Refulgent is used both literally and figuratively. On a bright day, the sun can be described as refulgent, and the beautiful, sunny weather might cause you to break into a refulgent smile. Refulgent shines brightly among its synonyms: radiant, dazzling, and luminous. You'll typically encounter refulgent in literature and poetry, but using this word is a great way to show off your refulgent mind.

Example Sentences

To Courts Refulgent there we oft did wend.

From Babylonian and Assyrian Literature by Anonymous

Nor less Achilles his fierce soul prepares: Before his breast the flaming shield he bears, Refulgent orb! above his fourfold cone The gilded horse-hair sparkled in the sun.

From The Iliad by Pope, Alexander

Refulgent fall the golden rays of the sun; a minute only, the clouds cover him and the hedge is dark.

From Field and Hedgerow Being the Last Essays of Richard Jefferies by Jefferies, Richard

Day following day, a long-continued feast, Refulgent pedestals the walls surround, Which boys of gold with illuming torches crown'd; The polish'd oar, reflecting every ray, Blazed on the banquets with a double day.

From The Odyssey by Pope, Alexander

Felton, the assassin of the Duke of Buckingham, by the growing republican party was hailed as a Brutus, rising, in the style of a patriotic bard, Refulgent from the stroke.—AKENSIDE.

From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2 by Disraeli, Isaac