Nitescence
/naɪˈtɛsəns/noun
The state or quality of shining, gleaming, or becoming luminous.
Did you know?Nitescence comes from Latin nitescere, an inchoative verb meaning “to begin to shine,” so the word emphasizes becoming luminous rather than merely being bright.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nei-
“To shine or be bright; a proposed ancient root associated with Latin words for radiance and brightness”
Classical Latin
Latin
nitēre
“To shine, gleam, be bright, or appear sleek”
Classical Latin
Latin
nitēscere
“To begin to shine or become bright; an inchoative form of nitēre”
Late Latin
Latin
nītēscĕntia
“The process or state of becoming bright”
17th Century
English
nitescence
“The state of shining or becoming luminous”
Modern English
English
nitescence
“Brightness, gleaming, or the emergence of light”