Scintillation
/ˌsɪn.tɪˈleɪ.ʃən/noun
The emission of brief flashes of light, or a succession of sparkling or brilliant effects.
Did you know?Medieval and early modern writers used the Latin image of a scintilla—“spark”—for a tiny surviving ember of knowledge, inspiration, or divine illumination.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European (proposed)
PIE
*skand-
“To leap, spring, or rise; a proposed wider root associated with Latin scintilla and related forms.”
Classical Latin
Latin
scintilla
“A spark, spark of fire, or tiny particle of glowing material.”
Classical Latin
Latin
scintillāre
“To sparkle, emit sparks, or shine with brief flashes.”
Late Latin
Latin
scintillātiō
“A sparkling, flashing, or emission of sparks.”
17th Century
English
scintillation
“The act or process of sparkling or flashing; later, brilliance in expression or performance.”
Modern English
English
scintillation
“Brief flashes of light, sparkling brilliance, or a related physical phenomenon such as detector flashes caused by radiation.”