INCANDESCENT

PRONUNCIATION: (in-kuhn-DES-uhnt)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Emitting light when heated.
2. Extremely bright.
3. Displaying intense emotion, such as anger, affection, or zeal.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin incandescere (to become hot, glow), from in- (intensive prefix) + candere (to shine or glow), from candidus (white). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kand- (to shine) which also gave us candle, incense, candid, candida, candent, and candidate (in reference to white togas worn by Romans seeking office). Earliest documented use: 1794.
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TIN CAN DESCENT - kicking the tomato soup container down the stairs

ZINC ANDES CENT - a unusual old metal coin discovered recently in the mountains of Chile

"I CAN" DESCENT - downfall caused by unwarranted optimism