Heiligenschein

[hahy-li-guhn-shahyn]

noun

German.

plural

Heiligenscheine 

1. (on wet grass and when the sun is low) a bright ring around the shadow cast by a person's head, caused by reflection and diffraction of light rays.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Heiligenschein¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from German: literally, “halo, gloriole,” equivalent to Heiligen- “saint's” + Schein “shine, light, brilliance”

Example Sentences

She had already survived 36 rounds of competition and along the way had aced the spelling of words such as “konditorei,” “heiligenschein” and “wayzgoose.”

Read more on New York Times

According to Merriam-Webster, a konditorei is a shop that sells confectionery or pastry; heiligenschein is a bright light around the shadow of a person’s head caused by diffraction and reflection of sunlight by dewdrops; and wayzgoose is a printer’s annual outing.

Read more on New York Times