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Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INCANDESCENT

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explore the archives:

You'll recognize incandescent's relationship to candle. Another relative of these is cand__, meaning "open honesty." Stick with me here: this cand__ comes from the Latin word for "purity," which comes from another meaning "to be white" or "to shine."

(I'd love to confirm that these all relate, too, to "candy," which can be both shiny and made with heat, but the similarity appears to be a coincidence.)

make your point with...

"INCANDESCENT"

Literally, something incandescent is either hot and glowing or simply brightly glowing.

Figuratively, something incandescent is so excited or angry that it seems warm and glowing.

Pronunciation:
in can DESS unt

Part of speech:
Adjective.
(Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late."
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in "an incandescent thing" or "an incandescent person."
2. After a linking verb, as in "It was incandescent" or "He was incandescent.")

Other forms:
Incandescently, incandescence. ("Incandesce" is the verb, but it's rare.)

How to use it:

Although "incandescent" might come up as you're talking about, say, light bulbs or chemistry experiments, we'll focus more on the figurative usage.

Talk about incandescent objects (like incandescent snow or the incandescent glimmer of the Pacific); incandescent words, phrases, speeches, and written works; incandescent performances or works of art, etc.

People can be incandescent, too: something might make you incandescent with rage or incandescent with passion, or you might be incandescent about something or incandescent that something happened: "She's incandescent that discrimination in her field has only gotten worse."

examples:

"I Love to Laugh" from Mary Poppins was one of my mom's favorite songs; watching it now, I see why. It's incandescent with joy.

Maybe it's the physical exertion, but in interviews he's as dim as he is incandescent on the playing field.

study it now:

Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "incandescent" means when you can explain it without saying "passionate" or "vehement."

try it out:

Think of something that makes you really angry OR really excited. (Be either serious or silly.) Fill in the blanks: "I (handle/enjoy) (something not too upsetting or exciting), but _____ make(s) me incandescent."

Example: "I enjoy most Star Trek episodes, but the ones about Data learning what it is to be human make me incandescent."

before you review:

Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.

This month, we're playing "You Know, That Thing!"

This game challenges your powers of recall. Start a timer: twenty seconds if you're an adult, longer if you're a kid or an English language learner. Read the description of each thing, and come up with its name. Try to name all three before your timer runs out. (Scroll all the way down for the answers.)

Ready? Go!

1. In the U.S., the things that police must say to people as they're being taken into custody are the…
2. The document a store gives you that says you can buy an item at its current sale price when it comes back into stock is a …
3. Favoritism toward family members (for example, giving jobs to them instead of other deserving applicants) is…

review today's word:

1. One opposite of INCANDESCENT is

A. DULL
B. DEEP
C. DRAFTY

2. The piece ends with an incandescent _____ of chords.

A. roll
B. shimmer
C. canter

Answers are below.

a final word:

To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.

Answers to review questions:
1. A
2. B

Answers to game questions:
1. Miranda rights (or the Miranda warning)
2. rain check
3. nepotism

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