[f. L. lūcifer light-bearing (see LUCIFER) + -OUS.]
1. That brings, conveys or emits light. Now rare in serious use.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Luciferous, that brings or causeth light.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 116. The clammy moisture of Oysters that shines in the dark of a violet colour, comes from luciferous wormes that have their holes in the shells.
1694. Salmon, Bate’s Dispens., I. 357/1. The lucidness of the Luciferous matter.
1805. trans. St. Vincent’s Voy. Afr. Seas, 42. These luciferous animals [F. animaux lucifères] almost all belong to the class of transparent … worms.
1821. Blackw. Mag., X. 560. Combustible and luciferous matter.
1856. Grindon, Life, xxxii. 283. The nearer we stand to the luciferous orb [sc. the sun].
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., xxv. Let us … bless Mr. Price and other Luciferous benefactors of mankind, for banishing the abominable mutton of our youth.
2. fig. Affording illumination or insight; luminous, illuminating. In 17th c. common in luciferous experiment, after Bacon’s lucifera experimenta (Nov. Org., I. § 70, 99, et al.).
1648. Petty, Adv. to Hartlib, 20. How to make the most of experiments,… all being equally Luciferous, although not equally Lucriferous.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., xv. 104. So Luciferous an Experiment.
1676. Glanvill, Ess., iii. 28. A rare and luciferous Theory.
1811. Edin. Rev., XIX. 229. These … are the only luciferous experiments, of which geology can yet boast.
Hence Luciferously adv., Luciferousness.
1665. Phil. Trans., I. 48. The Luciferousness of such Experiments.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., III. § 3. Embrace not the opacous and blind side of opinions, but that which looks most Luciferously or influentially unto Goodness.
