Definition of "lambent" in Anglais

adjective

1. Brushing or flickering gently over a surface.

   • 1800, William Cowper, The Task, Book VI: "The Winter Walk at Noon", Poems, J. Johnson, page 232, No foe to man / Lurks in the ſerpent now: the mother ſees, / And ſmiles to ſee, her infant's playful hand / Stretch'd forth to dally with the creſted worm, / To ſtroke his azure neck, or to receive / The lambent homage of his arrowy tongue.

2. Glowing or luminous, but lacking heat.

   • The lambent glow of fireflies delighted the children.
   • [W]hile I held my son, in the short space Betwixt our kisses and our last embrace; Strange to relate, from young Iülus’ head A lambent flame arose, which gently spread Around his brows, and on his temples fed.
   • 1839, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Jonathan Birch (translator), Faust: A Tragedy, Black and Armstrong, page 127, The Witch, with much ceremony, fills the basin. As FAUST is about to raise it to his lips, it emits a clear flame. MEPHISTOPHELES. Quick! quickly down with it!—no breathing time allowed! […] And does a lambent flame prevent thee quaff?

3. (figuratively) Exhibiting lightness or brilliance of wit; clever or witty without unkindness.

   • We appreciated her lambent comments.