brilliant English · revision 4619

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1681|origins=la beryllus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈbrɪl.i.ənt/, US /ˈbrɪl.jənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|brillant|t=shining, sparkling]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) present participle of briller “to shine” (16th century),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[it|brillare|t=to sparkle, whirl]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) probably from brillo “beryl”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) or perhaps from Vulgar Latin *berillāre “to shine like a beryl”,^(Etymonline) from Latin [[m|la|bēryllus|t=beryl]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) the source of [[beryl]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Hoad calls the Italian verb of unknown origin.^(Hoad 1986) The English spelling -lli- represents the old sound of French -ll-.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Brightly shining, sparkling: 1681 in the OED and Barnhart,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the 1680s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Hoad notes that it was not frequent before the 18th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of diamonds, it refers from the 1680s to a cut with many facets invented in the 17th century by the Venetian cutter Vincenzo Peruzzi,^(Etymonline) and the noun, a diamond of the finest cut, is from 1690.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) Of qualities and actions, splendid or illustrious, it is from 1758,^(OED 1989) and of persons, distinguished by talent, from 1848.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In weakened colloquial use, “amazing, fantastic”, it is from 1971,^(OED 1989) and the clipping brill came into use in the 1980s.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Brilliance'' is from 1755.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1681 – shining.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1690 – noun, a cut diamond.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1755 – ''brilliance''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1758 – splendid.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1848 – of talented persons.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1971 – fantastic.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1980s – brill.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Very bright or [[shine|alt=shining]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Very clever or talented: ''a brilliant scientist''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Outstanding or impressive.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly British informal)'' Excellent; wonderful.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of colour, vivid and intense; of sound, sharp and clear.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A gem, especially a [[diamond]], cut with many facets to give great sparkle.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[brilliantly]]

+ * [[brilliantness]]

+ * [[brilliance]]

+ * [[brilliancy]]

+ * [[overbrilliant]]

+ * [[unbrilliant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[brilliantine]]

+ * [[beryl]]

+ * [[beryllium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}