Phosphoresce

Word of the Day for Monday, June 17, 2013

Phosphoresce \fos-fuh-RES\, verb:

to be luminous without sensible heat, as phosphorus.

Maybe it's the gloomy dark, the phosphoresce from the glubbing aquarium. But mostly it's the way Coach's eyes seem to vibrate when she looks at me, pupils like nail heads.
-- Megan Abbott, Dare Me, 2012

From the boulevard they turned towards the pavilion, and for a long time gazed at the phosphorescent sea. Von Koren began to explain what made it phosphoresce.
-- Anton Chekhov, The Duel, 1891

Phosphoresce came to English in the late-1700s from the Greek Phosphoros meaning "morning star," or literally "torchbearer."

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com