candlelighting means the lighting of a candle, especially as part of a ceremony. It carries an Arena rating of 1495, earned across 9 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, candlelighting ranks #1,013 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #2,767 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #3,589 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #4,944 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words.
Why “candlelighting” is a great word
The act or ceremony of lighting a candle, especially the ritual moment shortly before sundown on Shabbat or a Jewish holiday when candles are kindled to mark the sacred transition into rest. From candle (from Old English 'candel', ultimately from Latin 'candela', meaning 'a light, torch, candle') + lighting (the verbal noun of 'light'). Unlike "candling" (which examines an egg's interior) or "illumination" (which denotes a general state of being lit), candlelighting is time-bound and intentional, a small defiance of encroaching darkness. It is the match struck at eighteen minutes before sunset, the twin flames trembling as they find their wicks, the hushed moment hands are drawn back to cover the eyes—a deliberate, fragile creation of light against the gathering dark, marking not just the day's end, but the start of sanctuary.
Etymology
From candle + lighting.
noun
- The lighting of a candle, especially as part of a ceremony
- The specific time eighteen minutes before sundown when Shabbat or holiday candles are supposed to be lit, according to halacha.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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