Page:The Readable Dictionary.djvu/37



1. Terms significant of the various modifications of Light.

LIGHT is the agent which renders objects visible.

Light, in a figurative sense, is the information which enables us to apprehend the true nature and relations of things.

To is either to emit inherent light, as the sun; or to reflect borrowed light, as the moon.

A is a reflected shining.

, either emitting or reflecting light freely. The sun is bright, as is likewise the piece of polished steel that reflects his brightness.

, either emitting or reflecting a faint light.

, deficient either in native or borrowed brightness. A lamp that needs trimming gives a dull light, A key that is not used becomes dull.

To is to shine with a feeble and unsteady light, like the flame of an expiring lamp.

To is to shine with a small intermitting light.

To is to shine with a resemblance of sparks. A collection of small diamonds sparkles. Spangles of frost sparkle in the sunlight.

A is, 1. A small plate or boss of shining metal. 2. Any little thing that is very bright and sparkling.

To Spangle, or to Bespangle, is to adorn with spangles.

To is to shine with a faint and tremulous light. Dying embers glimmer on the hearth. The early dawn glimmers in the east.

To is to shoot forth small streams of light.

Figuratively, we speak of a gleam of hope.

To is to shine with an unsteady and irregular emission or reflection of light. The stars glitter, The diamond on a lady's ring glitters.

To is to shine with a keen and sparkling light.