Coruscate

[fidgetspin.livejournal.com]

Coruscate verb, \ KOR-uh-skayt \
Means

1.  To give off or reflect bright beams or flashes of light; to sparkle.

2.  To exhibit brilliant, sparkling technique or style.
Comes from Latin coruscatus , past participle of coruscare , "to move quickly, to tremble, to flutter, to twinkle or flash." The noun form is coruscation . Also from coruscare  is the adjective coruscant , "glittering in flashes; flashing."
For example
The single rose that floated to the surface of the harbor, however, had begun to glow with a strange, blue light.  It seemed to grow larger as the glow intensified.  Then, her face calm, Polgara appeared in the very center of that coruscating incandescence.  A few feet to her left there also appeared a nimbus of flickering light.  Before the stunned eyes of those on the quay, the nimbus suddenly coalesced, and there, standing beside Polgara, Garion saw the glowing form of the God Aldur. 
-King of the Murgos by David Eddings

Comments

[kimuro.livejournal.com]

I think that "coruscate" is the adjective used in a poem to describe the girl he adored by the human who became the vampire Spike in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

[ioanna-ioannina.livejournal.com]

Great word, for the first time even the Latin form was unknown to me.

Just curious: is it really regular in English speaking countries to cite Latin words of 3th declination in the form of their radices only? In my country this would be a great mistake, but your way can be different.

[20thlvl-rogue.livejournal.com]

This is one of my favorite words in the English language.

[sultaness.livejournal.com]

I came in to say this first part. The Belgariad, the Mallorean, and the various other novels set in that world are some of my favorite fantasy novels of all time.

[nerdfury.livejournal.com]

Ah, Eddings. I have a feeling I wouldn't like them as fondly as when I was in school.

[white-guilt.livejournal.com]

Great word! <3

[fidgetspin.livejournal.com]

Cool, it looks like it's named that bc the whole planet is one giant city so at night it glitters. Thanks for this, it's interesting!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coruscant
And PS, I chose the quote hoping for some fans to come out of the woodwork. Thanks for that too! :-)

[fidgetspin.livejournal.com]

How so? Wouldn't like the books? I didn't discover them until a few years ago and I agree I probably would have liked them more at a younger age but I still think they're great. Whenever I'm out of books to read I end up picking them up again.

[fidgetspin.livejournal.com]

I'm thankful for all these com members coming up with interesting examples for the word. I couldn't find it to link, but thank you still!

[nerdfury.livejournal.com]

I read a lot of fantasy in school. Whenever I revisit what were my favourite books back then, I'm usually disappointed when I realise how many of the books weren't as good as I remembered.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

It does seem to be common, alas.

---L.

[ioanna-ioannina.livejournal.com]

OK, I will get used to it. Thanks.