- Today's Word
Elated
[ee-LAY-ted]
Definition
- (adjective) A a state of extreme happiness, joy, or pride; feeling on top of the world. It refers to an intense feeling of high spirits and exhilaration, often resulting from a success or particularly positive event.
Example
The young artist was elated when she sold her first painting at the gallery, dancing around her studio with pure joy.
Fun Fact
“Elated” comes from the Latin “elatus,” meaning “raised, uplifted, exalted,” which is the past participle of “efferre,” combining “e-” (meaning “out”) and “ferre” (meaning “to carry”). The word’s etymology reflects the common metaphorical association between physical height and positive emotions – when we’re happy, we feel “lifted up” or “on cloud nine.” In medieval times, the concept of elation was actually considered potentially dangerous by some religious authorities, who warned that excessive earthly joy could lead to pride, one of the seven deadly sins. The word gained particular significance during the Romantic period of the late 18th century, when poets and writers began exploring and celebrating intense emotional states. Interestingly, in early psychology, “elation” was studied as part of bipolar disorder research, helping establish the understanding of mood cycles. Today, neuroscientists study elation as a distinct emotional state associated with specific brain chemistry, particularly the release of dopamine and endorphins.
(adjective) Light, delicate, and translucent; so fine in texture as to be nearly transparent
The diaphanous curtains billowed in the breeze, letting the morning light pour softly into the room.
Diaphanous comes from the Medieval Latin diaphanus, itself from the Greek diaphanes — from dia (“through”) + phainein (“to show” or “to appear”). It entered English in the early 17th century, originally used to describe fine fabrics and minerals that allowed light to pass through them visibly.