brilliant

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Brill, derived from brilliant is an adjective (cf.

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Definitions (29)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (7)

  1. adjective Full of light; shining. See Synonyms at bright.
  2. adjective Relating to or being a hue that has a combination of high lightness and strong saturation.
  3. adjective Sharp and clear in tone.
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Examples

  • Alexander Rembielinski, described as a brilliant pianist and a composer in the style of Fesca, who returned from Paris to Warsaw and died young, is said to have been a friend of Chopin's. —  Frederic Chopin as a Man and Musician
  • If it had not been for his genius for composition, he would, without doubt, have been known as a brilliant and forceful interpreter of the greatest piano literature. —  Edward MacDowell
  • For all the effect it had, he might as well not have bothered. —  Split Infinity
  • But he said dynamically brilliant, which is the letters d and b. —  Bad Luck and Trouble
  • Brill, derived from brilliant is an adjective (cf. —  VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol VI No 3
 

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Brilliant has been looked up 360 times, favorited once, listed 59 times, and commented on once.

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Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

bright ·  new ·  vivid ·  clever
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. French brillant, present participle of briller, to shine, from Italian brillare, perhaps from brillo, beryl, from Latin bēryllus; see beryl.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from French brillant (English -lli- = -ly-, representing the former sound of F. -ll-), present participle of briller = Provencal Spanish brillar = Portuguese brilhar = Italian brillare, glitter, sparkle, from Middle Latin as if *berillare, sparkle like a beryl or other precious stone, from Latin berillus, beryllus, a beryl, gem, eyeglass; cf. Italian dial. brill, a beryl, Middle Latin brillum, an eyeglass, later G. brille, Dutch bril, spectacles: see beryl.
 

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/ˈbrɪlyənt/
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