AUREOLE

aura, aureole, halo, nimbus, glory, gloriole

(noun) an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint

aureole, corona

(noun) the outermost region of the sun’s atmosphere; visible as a white halo during a solar eclipse

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

aureole (plural aureoles)

A circle of light or halo around the head of a deity or a saint.

(by extension) Any luminous or colored ring that encircles something.

(astronomy) A corona.

(geology) A ring around an igneous intrusion.

Source: Wiktionary


Au*re"o*la, Au"re*ole, n. Etym: [F. auréole, fr. L. aureola, (fem adj.) of gold (sc. corona crown), dim. of aureus. See Aureate, Oriole.]

1. (R. C. Theol.)

Definition: A celestial crown or accidental glory added to the bliss of heaven, as a reward to those (as virgins, martyrs, preachers, etc.) who have overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.

2. The circle of rays, or halo of light, with which painters surround the figure and represent the glory of Christ, saints, and others held in special reverence.

Note: Limited to the head, it is strictly termed a nimbus; when it envelops the whole body, an aureola. Fairholt.

3. A halo, actual or figurative. The glorious aureole of light seen around the sun during total eclipses. Proctor. The aureole of young womanhood. O. W. Holmes.

4. (Anat.)

Definition: See Areola, 2.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 January 2025

LEFT

(adjective) being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north; “my left hand”; “left center field”; “the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream”


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Coffee Trivia

Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.

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