effuse means poured out freely; profuse. It carries an Arena rating of 1490, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, effuse ranks #1,022 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #1,979 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #2,121 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #5,806 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
effuse is pronounced /ɪˈfjuːs/.
Why “effuse” is a great word
To pour out or flow forth freely; to be spread or displayed in a loose, abundant manner. From the Latin effusus, past participle of effundere ("to pour out"), from ef- (variant of ex-, "out") + fundere ("to pour"), first recorded in English use in the late 14th century. Unlike "emit," which suggests a directed or technical discharge, or "diffuse," which implies a gradual, even dispersal, to effuse is to spill over with unforced generosity. It is the honey spilling from a tilted jar, the sudden warmth of light flooding a dark room, the unguarded confession that finally breaks its dam—a quiet abundance whose only direction is outward, surrendered because it cannot be contained.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French effuser, from Latin effusus, past participle of effundere (“to pour out”).
adj
- Poured out freely; profuse.e.g.“So should our joy be very effuse.” — a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number)”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Va
- Disposed to pour out freely; prodigal.e.g.“No wanton waste amid effuse expence” — 1742–1745, [Edward Young], The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, London: […] [Samuel Richardson] for A[ndrew] Millar […], and R[obert] Dodsley […], published 1750, →OCLC:
- Spreading loosely, especially on one side.e.g.“an effuse inflorescence”
- Having the lips, or edges, of the aperture abruptly spreading, as in certain shells.
noun
- effusion; losse.g.“Much effuse of blood.” — c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, an
verb
- To emit; to give off.
- To gush; to be excitedly talkative and enthusiastic about something.
- To pour out like a stream or freely; to cause to exude; to shed.e.g.“With gushing blood effused.” — 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as
- To leak out through a small hole.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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