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Saturday · word of the day
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SATURDAY · MAY 23, 2026
WORD OF THE DAY
+ 30 XP · +5 ◈ ON FIRST USE
Lambent.
ADJECTIVE
/ ˈlam-bənt /
ACADEMIC TIER · ★★★
Glowing softly; running over a surface with a gentle radiance — the way firelight plays on a windowpane.
Etymology
From Latin lambere — "to lick" — the same root as lambast. Flame "licking" softly across a surface.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Watch out for
Not the same as brilliant (sharp, intense). Lambent is always soft.
See it in three lives.
▣ LITERATURE
"The candles cast a lambent half-light, the kind that made you whisper without meaning to."
— Donna Tartt, adapted
▣ COLLEGE-PREP
"As used in context, 'lambent' most nearly means —"
READING COMPREHENSION · MEDIUM
▣ EVERYDAY
"There was a lambent glow under the bedroom door — she'd left the desk lamp on again."
CONVERSATIONAL
Your vocabulary mastery.
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Mastered
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Due for review
New (intro)14
In review38
Shaky15
Mastered19
Practice deck · 12 due
CARD 1 OF 12 · WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Ennui
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DEFINITION
A feeling of listlessness and weary dissatisfaction — boredom dressed up in French.
CARD 1 / 12
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