Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Giving light; affording light or means of discovery.
  • In entomology, having phosphorescent organs: applied to insects which emit light, as the glow-worm.
  • [capitalized] Of or pertaining to Lucifer or Satan; Luciferian; Satanic.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Giving light; affording light or means of discovery.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Literally illuminating; providing light.
  • adjective Figuratively illuminating; offering insight.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Lord Cromer was never tired of quoting what, in Bacon's phrase, he would call "luciferous" stories, to illustrate the folly of the administrator who thrusts physical improvements or the devices of

    The Adventure of Living : a Subjective Autobiography John St. Loe Strachey 1893

  • Looking directly into his luciferous splendor was painful, so she averted her eyes downward, toward his incandescent but wavering reflection on the ponds surface.

    Reap the Whirlwind David Mack 2007

  • Looking directly into his luciferous splendor was painful, so she averted her eyes downward, toward his incandescent but wavering reflection on the ponds surface.

    Reap the Whirlwind David Mack 2007

  • Looking directly into his luciferous splendor was painful, so she averted her eyes downward, toward his incandescent but wavering reflection on the ponds surface.

    Reap the Whirlwind David Mack 2007

  • Looking directly into his luciferous splendor was painful, so she averted her eyes downward, toward his incandescent but wavering reflection on the ponds surface.

    Reap the Whirlwind David Mack 2007

  • His luciferous raiment unraveled as well, flinging away his folk of sea and coastline and forest.

    Mercadian Masques Lebaron, Francis 1999

  • I remember a luciferous story which was told to me by Colonel John Hay to illustrate the frenzy of party.

    The Adventure of Living Strachey, John St Loe 1922

  • Lord Cromer was never tired of quoting what, in Bacon's phrase, he would call “luciferous” stories, to illustrate the folly of the administrator who thrusts physical improvements or the devices of European enlightenment upon the unwilling Oriental solely because they are good per se, or economical, or will make the governed richer or cleverer or happier.

    The Adventure of Living Strachey, John St Loe 1922

  • I remember a luciferous story which was told to me by Colonel John Hay to illustrate the frenzy of party.

    The Adventure of Living : a Subjective Autobiography John St. Loe Strachey 1893

  • "This view of the source of light, as respects the existence of the luciferous element throughout space, accords with the Mosaic account of creation, in so far as that light is described as having been created in the first instance before the sun was called forth."

    James Nasmyth: Engineer, An Autobiography. Nasmyth, James 1885

Comments

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  • Meaning luminous, but sounding like lucifer, who is dark (evil), but associated with fire.

    July 22, 2009

  • Actually, Lucifer is considered to be the "Day Star", and often "Light bringer". You only consider him "dark", because of the popular black/evil white/good conception.

    July 23, 2009