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Glister Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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glister

[ˈɡlɪstər ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

shine brightly

To glister means to shine with a sparkling or shimmering light. This verb often describes the way light reflects off surfaces, creating a glimmering effect.

Synonyms

glimmer, shine, sparkle.

Examples of usage

  • The stars glistered in the night sky.
  • The dew on the grass glistered in the morning sun.
  • She admired how the jewel glistered in the light.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

  • Famous works like Shakespeare's plays employed the term to convey beauty and brilliance.
  • In fantasy literature, characters often describe magical artifacts as glistering, enhancing their allure.
  • The word appears in various poems, illustrating themes of nature and light.

Cultural Significance

  • In some cultures, a glistering surface can symbolize purity and divinity, often depicted in religious art.
  • Festivals around the world celebrate light and glistening natural phenomena, like fireflies in summer.
  • Glistering elements can symbolize hope and inspiration in art and storytelling, representing aspirations.

Scientific Aspect

  • Light reflection on surfaces causes glistering, relating to physics concepts like refraction and reflection.
  • Certain minerals and gemstones exhibit a natural glister due to their crystalline structure, used in jewelry.
  • The phenomenon of glistering can also be observed in nature, such as dew on grass or sun on water.

Pop Culture

  • The term glister is often used in songs and movies when describing dazzling moments, enhancing the scene's emotion.
  • In fashion, fabrics that glister under lights are popular in evening wear, conveying glamour and elegance.
  • Characters in animated films often glister when they use their magic, signifying power or transformation.

Origin of 'glister'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'glister' has its roots in Old English, coming from 'glistern', which means to shine or sparkle.
  • Related to the word 'glisten', which evolved from the Middle English form 'glistnen'.
  • Historically, it has been used in poetry and literature to evoke images of light and beauty.

The word 'glister' originates from Middle English, derived from the Old English 'glistern', which is akin to the Old Norse word 'glitra' meaning to glitter or shine. Historically, 'glister' was often used in poetry and literature to evoke images of sparkling water or twinkling stars. Over time, the usage of 'glister' has become less frequent in modern English, often replaced by synonyms such as 'glitter' or 'shine'. Despite its diminished usage, 'glister' retains a poetic quality, often found in literature and descriptions of nature, giving a sense of beauty and delicacy to the scenes it describes.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,945, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.