brilliancyn.
The quality of being brilliant; shining quality, lustrousness; shining brightness.
a. physical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > intensity of light > [noun] > brilliance
alightingeOE
cleretea1340
blasenessa1398
clarityc1400
splendourc1450
resplendishure?1473
resplendour?1473
resplendence?a1475
resplendishing1479
flamingc1540
blazing1563
blaze1586
fulgence1592
fulgoura1600
resplendency1599
splendence1604
nitor1607
refulgence1624
refulgency?1624
fulgurea1634
fulgency1643
fulgidity1656
lucency1656
transplendency1664
vividness1668
brillant1676
shiningness1703
fulgurity1721
vivacity1735
brilliancy1747
brilliance1755
flame1800
éclata1806
vividity1813
prefulgence1892
1747 J. Hervey Medit. (1818) 89 It..throws a brilliancy into the water of the diamond that is hardening on its rock.
1755 Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Brilliancy, lustre; splendour.
1772 T. Pennant Tours Scotl. (1774) 323 An amazing brilliancy of colors.
1856 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters IV. 125 The apparent connection of brilliancy of colour with vigour of life, or purity of substance.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiogr. (ed. 2) 75 This brilliancy is rapidly lost..on exposure to the atmosphere.
b. non-material.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > promise, ground of hope > [noun]
i-wonc1275
wonec1290
likelinessa1450
hopec1480
likelihood1526
promise?1533
show1600
expectance1602
expectation1611
auspiciousness1649
hopefulness1651
promisingness1665
expectancy1696
brilliancy1781
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > high intelligence, genius > [noun]
wit1297
ingeny1474
inginea1522
ingenuity1600
flame1642
genius1749
iridescency1799
iridescence1803
brilliance1807
brilliancy1842
superintelligence1876
ingenium1879
1781 Johnson Pope in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets VII. 186 A scholar with great brilliancy of wit.
1796 E. Burke Lett. Peace Regic. France in Wks. (1808) VIII. 398 What new brilliancy then does it throw over the prospect.
1842 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. ix. 157 She is full of life, and spirit, and brilliancy.
1852 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire (ed. 2) I. ii. 79 The consciousness of deserved prosperity added brilliancy to his wit.
1864 Sat. Rev. 475/1 Brilliancy and shallowness are commonly received synonyms. The best device for exciting the most solemn distrust is to accuse a man of brilliance.
c. with plural.
ΚΠ
1858 N. Hawthorne Fr. & Ital. Jrnls. II. 96 Its concentrated brilliancies and magnificences.
1868 N. Hawthorne Amer. Note-bks. (1879) II. 145 The autumnal brilliancies.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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