Make Your Point > Archived Issues > LAMBENT
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"LAMBENT"
Pronunciation:
LAM bunt
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 “a lambent snowfall.”
2. After a linking verb, as in "The snowfall was lambent.”)
Meaning:
Concretely, something lambent is softly bright, flickering, or glowing gently.
Abstractly, something lambent is graceful and light, or playful in an intelligent way.
Other forms:
lambently, lambency
How to use it:
"Lambent" is a poetic word.
Concretely, talk about lambent snow, lambent flames or fires, lambent stars, lambent moonlight, a lambent sky at sunrise, a lambent haze, lambent eyes, a lambent face, the lambent green of an ocean wave as it rises, etc. You could talk about "lambent light" or "lambent lighting," but that seems redundant to me.
Abstractly, talk about lambent wit, lambent humor, lambent intelligence, lambent thoughts, lambent writing, lambent art, a lambent aura, lambent beauty, and so on.
I flicked through tons of paint samples trying to find something to match the lambent Pacific waves as they leap up in bright sunlight at the Onekahakaha beach park, but there's just nothing that matches that.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, a children's novel, is always worth rereading for its warm, lambent stories-within-the-story.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "lambent" means when you can explain it without saying “glowing" or "graceful."
Think of a favorite childhood memory, and fill in the blank: "It's easy to conjure up the lambent memory of _____."
Example: "It's easy to conjure up the lambent memory of running through the sprinkler in our backyard."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
Playing With Words:
Our game for July is called A Verbal Tour of the US. I’ll ask you a trivia question each day this month about the names of US cities, states, geographic features, etc. Try it out each day, and see the right answer the next day. Happy verbal trails to you!
From yesterday:
If you’re like me, then as a kid you learned how to spell this state’s name with a chant that includes the phrases “crooked letter, crooked letter” and “humpback, humpback.” Which state is it?
Answer: We learned to spell “Mississippi” by chanting “M, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, humpback, humpback, I.”
Try this one today:
Word-wise, what does Indiana have in common with Oklahoma?
A Point Well Made:
David Hume: “Truth springs from arguments among friends.”
1. The opposite of LAMBENT is
A. DARK
B. DEEP
C. RAGGED
2. The lambent stream by the old, quiet house seemed _____.
A. spooky
B. charming
C. chaotic
Answers are below.
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Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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
"LAMBENT" Pronunciation: LAM buntPart of speech: Meaning: Other forms: |