Nimbus
/ˈnɪm.bəs/noun
A luminous or cloudlike halo around a sacred figure, or a dark rain cloud.
Did you know?In Latin, nimbus could mean a storm cloud, a rain shower, or a radiant halo, so the same word hovered between divine light and threatening weather.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nebh-
“to dampen, wet, or cloud over”
Latin
Latin
nimbus
“a rain cloud, dark cloud, shower, or radiant cloudlike halo”
Late Latin
Latin
nimbus
“a halo or bright cloud surrounding a sacred figure”
17th Century
English
nimbus
“a luminous halo around a holy person or image”
Modern English
English
nimbus
“a halo, especially in art, or a large cloud”