Candescence
/kænˈdɛsəns/noun
The process of becoming incandescent or glowing with heat.
Did you know?Candescence comes from Latin *candēscere*, an inchoative verb meaning “to begin to glow,” from *candēre* “to shine, be white,” the same ancient root behind words of brightness and candle-light.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kand-
“to shine; to glow; to be white”
Latin
Latin
candēre
“to be white, bright, or shining”
Latin
Latin
candēscere
“to begin to shine or glow”
Late Latin
Latin
candēscentia
“the state or process of glowing”
Middle English
English
candescence
“the condition of glowing with heat or becoming incandescent”
Modern English
English
candescence
“the process or state of glowing with intense heat or light”