- Today's Word
Scintillating
[SIN-tl-ey-ting]
Definition
- (adjective) A word to describe something or someone that is brilliantly clever, engaging, and highly entertaining. It’s often used to refer to a conversation, performance, or idea that sparkles with wit, intelligence, and charm, leaving you mentally stimulated and eager for more.
Example
The dinner party was a huge success, thanks to the scintillating conversation that flowed throughout the evening, touching on topics ranging from art and philosophy to the latest scientific breakthroughs.
Fun Fact
In the literal sense, “scintillating” refers to something that sparkles or emits flashes of light. This word comes from the Latin word “scintilla,” which means “spark.” In astronomy, a scintillation is the twinkling or flickering of stars caused by the Earth’s atmosphere distorting the light as it reaches our eyes. Much like how the twinkling stars capture our attention in the night sky, a scintillating conversation or performance captivates and dazzles us with its brilliance and spark.
(adjective) Related to the mind, intellect, or deep understanding; involving mental activity, insight, or inner knowing.
After hours of quiet reflection, she felt a noetic clarity that helped her solve the problem in an entirely new way.
Noetic comes from the Greek noēsis, meaning “understanding” or “intellect,” rooted in noein, “to think.” It has long been used in philosophy to describe forms of knowledge gained through thought, insight, or inner awareness rather than through physical experience.