From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Aureola \Au*re"o*la\, Aureole \Au"re*ole\, n. [F. aur['e]ole,
fr. L. aureola, (fem adj.) of gold (sc. corona crown), dim.
of aureus. See {Aureate}, {Oriole}.]
1. (R. C. Theol.) A celestial crown or accidental glory added
to the bliss of heaven, as a reward to those (as virgins,
martyrs, preachers, etc.) who have overcome the world, the
flesh, and the devil.
[1913 Webster]
2. The circle of rays, or halo of light, with which painters
surround the figure and represent the glory of Christ,
saints, and others held in special reverence.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Limited to the head, it is strictly termed a nimbus;
when it envelops the whole body, an aureola.
--Fairholt.
[1913 Webster]
3. A halo, actual or figurative.
[1913 Webster]
The glorious aureole of light seen around the sun
during total eclipses. --Proctor.
[1913 Webster]
The aureole of young womanhood. --O. W.
Holmes.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Anat.) See {Areola}, 2.
[1913 Webster]
5. the outermost region of the sun's atmosphere; visible from
earth during a solar eclipse, or in outer space by the use
of special instruments; a {corona[5]}.
Syn: corona.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
aureole
n 1: the outermost region of the sun's atmosphere; visible as a
white halo during a solar eclipse [syn: {aureole},
{corona}]
2: an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a
saint [syn: {aura}, {aureole}, {halo}, {nimbus}, {glory},
{gloriole}]
|
