adazzle means illuminated so as to dazzle. It carries an Arena rating of 1398, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, adazzle ranks #465 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #3,307 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #4,774 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #6,773 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words.
Why “adazzle” is a great word
Illuminated so brightly as to dazzle the sight. A fusion of the intensive prefix *a-* with the verb *dazzle*, itself a blend of *daze* and the frequentative *-le*, suggesting a sustained, active overpowering of the senses, this word entered the lexicon in the early nineteenth century. Unlike "dazzling" (which denotes the source of brilliance) or "aglow" (which implies a soft, suffused warmth), "adazzle" defines the resultant, often painful, state of the observer. It is not the sun but the snowfield under it; not the chandelier but the eyes caught in its crystalline explosion; not the jewel but the weary glance that fractures upon its facet—a condition of being conquered by light.
Etymology
From a- + dazzle.
adj
- Illuminated so as to dazzle.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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