radiant
- Sending out a bright, glowing light, or looking extremely happy and healthy.
In a sentence
- The bride looked radiant as she walked down the aisle on her wedding day.
- Radiant heat from the bonfire warmed everyone standing nearby.
Usage note. 'Radiant' is often used to describe a person's appearance when they look especially joyful or healthy; it is more poetic and elevated than simply saying 'bright.'
Where it comes from
English radiant · entered English 15th c.
From Latin 'radiantem,' present participle of 'radiare' (to shine or emit rays), derived from 'radius' (ray or spoke of a wheel). It entered English in the 15th century and has been used both in scientific and descriptive contexts.