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

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

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

He added not: and Iris from the skies, Swift as a whirlwind, on the message flies, Meteorous the face of ocean sweeps, Refulgent gliding o'er the sable deeps.

From The Iliad by Pope, Alexander

The stars no fix’d duration know; Wide oceans ebb, again to flow; The moon repletes her waning face, All-beauteous, from her late disgrace; And suns, that mourn approaching night, Refulgent rise, with new-born light.

From Moores Fables for the Female Sex by Moore, Edward Caldwell

He passed within, by Tárá pressed, And by his own impatient breast, Refulgent there in sunlike sheen Sugríva on his throne was seen.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Griffith, Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin)

Refulgent Moon! when in the cruel sea Down sank yon fair Ship to her coral grave, Where didst thou linger then?

From The Isle of Palms and Other Poems by Wilson, John Lyde

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