scintillo Latin · revision 36766

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la scintilla}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [skɪnˈtɪl.loː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ʃinˈtil.lo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scintillō''' (present infinitive scintillāre, perfect active scintillāvī, supine scintillātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|scintilla|-ō|t1=spark]], a verb formed from the noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Plautus,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) of flashing eyes in the ''Menaechmi'': ''ut oculī scintillant, vidē!'', “look how the eyes are flashing!”^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis and Short call it a poetic and post-Augustan word.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It meant to give off sparks, as Virgil's oil spitting in a burning lamp,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) and then to sparkle or flash: of lightning, stars and other lights in the sky in Lucretius, Manilius and Pliny the Elder;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) of eyes in anger, as in Persius;^(OLD 2012) of gold, gems such as the carbuncle, and helmet crests in Pliny and Silius Italicus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Figuratively, Silius has anger flash on bloody cheeks, Calpurnius the fire of love, and Ambrose the ardour of desire glowing in the minds of listeners.^(Lewis & Short 1879) English [[m|en|scintillate]] was formed from its participle in the 1620s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of flashing eyes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the sky.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of oil sputtering in a lamp.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of lightning, gold and gems.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 340–397 AD – Ambrose uses it figuratively.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1620s – English ''scintillate'' is formed from its participle.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give off [[m|en|spark|alt=sparks]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(of stars, lightning and other lights)'' To [[m|en|twinkle]], flash.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of the eyes)'' To flash with anger or madness.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of metals and gems)'' To [[m|en|glitter]], [[m|en|sparkle]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To glow, flash (of passions).^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scintillātiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scintilla]]

+ * [[en|scintillate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}