[see prec. and -ANCY.]
The quality of being brilliant; shining quality, lustrousness; shining brightness. a. physical.
1747. Hervey, Medit. & Contempl. (1818), 89. It … throws a brilliancy into the water of the diamond that is hardening on its rock.
1755. in Johnson.
1772. Pennant, Tours Scotl. (1774), 323. An amazing brilliancy of colors.
1856. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., IV. V. x. § 3. 125. The apparent connection of brilliancy of colour with vigour of life, or purity of substance.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 75. This brilliancy is rapidly lost … on exposure to the atmosphere.
b. non-material.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, Wks. VIII. 398. What new brilliancy then does it throw over the prospect.
1842. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, III. ix. 157. She is full of life, and spirit, and brilliancy.
1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), I. ii. 69. The consciousness of deserved popularity added brilliancy to his wit.
1864. Sat. Rev., 475/1. Brilliancy and shallowness are commonly received synonyms. The best device for exciting the most solemn distrust is to accuse a man of brilliance.
c. with plural.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., II. 96. Its concentrated brilliancies and magnificences. Ibid. (1868), Amer. Note-bks. (1879), II. 145. The autumnal brilliancies.
