was wotd|2007|December|16
English
Etymology
From L. term|lambens, present participle of term|lambo|lamb�|lick|lang=la.
Pronunciation
a|RP|US IPA|/�læmb�nt/
audio|en-us-lambent.ogg|Audio (US)
Adjective
en-adj
- brush#Verb|Brushing or flickering gently over a surface.
#*1977, w:Stephen R. Donaldson|Stephen R. Donaldson, Lord Foul�s Bane, page 77
#*:�As they walked together between the houses, Lena�s smooth arm brushed his. His skin felt lambent at the touch.�
- glow|Glowing or luminous, but lacking heat.
#: The lambent glow of fireflies delighted the children.
#* 1839, w:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe|Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Jonathan Birch (translator), s:Faust (von Goethe)|Faust: A Tragedy, Black and Armstrong, page 127,
#*: <small>The Witch, with much ceremony, fills the basin. As FAUST is about to raise it to his lips, it emits a clear flame.</small> <br/> MEPHISTOPHELES. Quick! quickly down with it!�no breathing time allowed! [�] And does a lambent flame prevent thee quaff?
- Exhibiting lightness or brilliance of wit; clever or witty without unkindness.
#: We appreciated her lambent comments.
#* 1800, w:William Cowper|William Cowper, The Task, Book VI: "The Winter Walk at Noon", Poems, J. Johnson, page 232,
#*: No foe to man / Lurks in the ſerpent now: the mother ſees, / And ſmiles to ſee, her infant's playful hand / Stretch'd forth to daily with the creſted worm, / To ſtroke his azure neck, or to receive / The lambent homage of his arrowy tongue.
Related terms
lambency
lambently
io:lambent
te:lambent
vi:lambent
zh:lambent
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