Word | rutilant |
---|---|
Date | January 28, 2014 |
Type | adjective |
Syllables | ROO-tuh-lunt |
Etymology | "Rutilant," which first appeared in English late in the 15th century, is used in English today to describe anything with a reddish or fiery glow, such as a sunset or flushed skin. It derives from Latin "rutilus," meaning "ruddy," which is probably related to Latin "ruber," meaning "red." "Ruber" itself is a direct ancestor of our word "rubella" (a disease named for the reddish color one's skin turns when afflicted with the condition) and "rubric" (which, among other things, can refer to a book or manuscript heading that is done or underlined in red). "Ruber" is also a distant relative of several English words for things that bear a reddish tone (including "russet," "rouge," and "ruby") and even of the word "red" itself. |
Examples | We all sat quietly around the campfire, each person's rutilant face mesmerized by the crackling flame. "I watched him with envy. He was tall and thin, having outgrown his pudge, while I was still layered with baby fat, rutilant cheeks glowing like apples." - From Doug Crandell's 2004 memoir Pig Boy’s Wicked Bird |
Definition | : having a reddish glow |
Tags: wordoftheday::adjective
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