Etymologically
Log in

refulgeo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 19 October 2026 at 19:09. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [rɛˈfʊɫ.ɡe.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [reˈful̠ʲ.d͡ʒe.o][1]

Forms

refulgeō (present infinitive refulgēre, perfect active refulsī); second conjugation, no passive, no supine stem[1] Lucretius has a third-conjugation form refulgit.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin re- (“back”) + fulgeō (“to flash, shine”).[4][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first examples are in Lucretius, of a colour changing as it shines with straight or slanting light, and in Cicero's translation of Aratus, of the stars.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

It means to radiate light or shine brightly, of heavenly bodies, as Cicero's Dog Star and Cynosura, and to shine with reflected light or gleam;[4][2] Lewis & Short note that it is mostly poetic.[4][2] Seneca the Elder uses it of Miltiades resplendent with a general's majesty.[4] Figuratively it is to flash before the mind, as Velleius' sure hope of children that shone upon parents, and to stand out, as Propertius' fame shining from a learned grandfather.[4] Church Latin glosses it to shine brightly, glitter, illuminate.[5]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius of reflected light.[4][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of shining stars.[4][6]
  • 57/46–12 BC – Propertius of shining fame.[4][6]
  • c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius of hope flashing on parents.[4][6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To shine brightly, radiate light; to shine with reflected light, gleam; to be resplendent.[4][2][1]
  2. To flash before the mind.[4]
  3. To be conspicuous, stand out.[4][1]

Word family

  • refulgentia

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de