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lambent

 - 3 dictionary results

lam⋅bent

  [lam-buhnt]
Use lambent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. running or moving lightly over a surface: lambent tongues of flame.
2. dealing lightly and gracefully with a subject; brilliantly playful: lambent wit.
3. softly bright or radiant: a lambent light.
Origin:
1640–50; < L lambent- (s. of lambēns) lapping, prp. of lambere to lick wash (said of water or fire); akin to lap 3 ; see -ent

Related forms:
lam⋅bent⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To lambent
lam·bent   (lām'bənt)   
adj.  

  1. Flickering lightly over or on a surface: lambent moonlight.

  2. Effortlessly light or brilliant: lambent wit.

  3. Having a gentle glow; luminous. See Synonyms at bright.


[Latin lambēns, lambent-, present participle of lambere, to lick.]
lam'ben·cy n., lam'bent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

lambent 
1647, from fig. use of L. lambentem (nom. lambens), prp. of lambere "to lick," from PIE base *lab- (cf. Gk. laptein "to sip, lick," O.E. lapian "to lick, lap up, suck").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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