English
translucent
Translucent comes from Latin trānslūcēns ‘translucent, transparent’, from trānslūceō ‘to shine or show through’, and ultimately from lūceō ‘to be light, clear’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElūceō‘to be light, clear’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtrānslūceō‘to shine or show through’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtrānslūcēnsas trānslūcentem‘translucent, transparent’
- Englishearliest quotation 1884translucent
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElūceō‘to be light, clear’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtrānslūceō‘to shine or show through’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtrānslūcēnsas trānslūcentem‘translucent, transparent’
- Englishearliest quotation 1884translucent
Earliest quotation: 1884, Henry J. Ramsdell, Life and Public Services of Hon. James G. Blaine: “Mr. Blaine's powers and disposition shone resplendent. . .…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’
light, low, link, los, lucy, ounce, lunar, lea, luna, illumination, illuminate, lux, luminous, lynx, luminosity, lumen, lumia, loach, luce, lum, lune, leucine, luminary, luminal, luminescent, 74 more
through Proto-Italic *l(o)ukēō
through Latin lūceō ‘to be light, clear’
Today it means
adj Allowing light to pass through, but diffusing it.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin lūceō / translucent