shine
/ʃaɪn/
verb
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*skei- — to cut, split, or shine
Overview
Meaning Now
- To emit or reflect light; to be radiant.
- To direct or aim a beam of light at something.
- To polish or make something bright through friction.
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
scinan
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The verb descends from a root that suggests 'cutting through' light or a clear appearance, linking the concepts of physical cutting to the visual perception of brightness.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*skīnaną
“to shine, be bright”
- Old English
scīnan
“to shine, flash, glow”
Strong verb class I.
- Middle English
shinen
“to emit light, to appear”
Transition from class I strong verb to modern usage.
- Modern English
shine
“emit light; polish”
Sense of 'polishing' developed in the 17th century.
Connections
Word parts
shine
root
emit light
Related across languages
German
scheinen
to shine, to seem
Dutch
schijnen
to shine, to appear
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.