brilliant
/ˈbrɪljənt/
adjective
Origin
Italian
brillare — to sparkle, shine
Overview
Meaning Now
- Shining brightly; sparkling or glowing with light.
- Outstandingly intelligent or skillful.
- Very vivid or intense in color.
Literal older meaning
shining like beryl
Language path
Latin → Italian → French → English
Earliest form
brilliant
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term entered English during the late 17th century, a period when French terminology for aesthetics and luxury was heavily adopted into the English language. It replaced older terms like 'bright' or 'shining' with a more sophisticated, nuanced connotation associated with polished gemstones.
Evolution
- Late Latin
beryllus
“a precious stone, beryl”
Source of the concept of gemstone-like brilliance.
- Italian
brillare
“to shine, sparkle”
Development of the verb denoting the effect of light.
- French
brillant
“shining, sparkling”
Present participle used as an adjective.
- English
brilliant
“bright, shining; intelligent”
Adopted into English, eventually expanding to describe intellectual acuity.
Connections
Word parts
brill-
root
to shine
-ant
suffix
forming an adjective from a participle
Related across languages
French
brillant
shining
Italian
brillante
shining, sparkly
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Related to brilliant
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.