Also 3 sperclinde, 5–6 sperkelynge; 5 sprakelynge. [f. SPARKLE v.1]
1. That emits sparks or sparkles. Also fig. and in fig. context.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 34. Þer in sperclinde luue bicluppeð oure leofmon.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 230. Tho that haue eyen like ly of fyre brandynge and sprakelynge, bene angry and shameles.
1493. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 45. Tongues muste speke wordes of fyre that is sharpe and sperkelynge.
1599. George a Greene, I. iv. Wherein two sapphires burne like sparkling fire.
1625. Jackson, Creed, V. li. 455. The light of truth will suddainly burst out, as from a sparkling fire.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, iii. A large sparkling fire of turf and bog-wood.
transf. 1648. Crashaw, Delights Muses, Wks. (1904), 121. In the close murmur of a sparkling noyse.
b. transf. Of heat.
c. 1700. Kennett, MS. Lansdowne 1033, fol. 388 (Halliw.). A sparkling or welding heat, used to weld barrs or pieces of iron.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, I. 11. The sparkling or welding heat is used, by which the metal is brought nearly to a state of fusion.
c. Sparkling synchisis: (see first quot.).
1859. Mayne, Expos. Lex., 1239/1. Sparkling Synchysis,… term for a species of Synchysis, in which sparks are seen flashing before the eyes.
1898. Hutchinson’s Arch. Surg., IX. 335. This attack had resulted in detachment of retina, sparkling synchisis, and loss of perception of light.
2. Of the eyes: Flashing, bright, animated.
1422. [cf. 1].
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. i. 12. His sparkling Eyes, repleat with wrathfull fire.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Petiller, sparkling, or often-twinckling eye.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 209. A great Vivacity and sparkling Sharpness in his Eyes.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 405. A sparkling eye beneath a wrinkled front The vet’ran shows.
1822. Scott, Nigel, xi. A thin bronzed visage,… and a pair of sparkling black eyes.
Comb. 1801. Cath. Hood, Remonstr., etc. 26. Sparkling-ey’d health, fair innocence, and peace.
transf. 1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. III. i. With a sparkling briskness of glance.
3. Reflecting or emitting rays of light; flashing, glittering, brilliant, resplendent.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. viii. 22. His sparkling blade about his head he blest.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xxviii. When sparkling stars twire not, thou guild’st the eauen.
1661. Boyle, Style of Script., 51. What the Diamond is amongst stones, the pretiousest, and the sparklingest, the most apt to scatter light.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 112. The sparkling trees And shrubs of fairy land.
1812. J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, i. 3. While many a sparkling star … Far down within the watery sky reposes.
1850. R. G. Cumming, Hunter’s Life S. Afr. (1902), 57/1. A mixture of fat and a grey sparkling ore, having the appearance of mica.
b. Of water, the sea, etc.
1782. Phil. Trans., LXXII. 430. The sparkling quality of the water did not cease entirely till the vegetable was quite deprived of its life.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, iv. Sometimes a torrent poured its sparkling flood high among the woods.
1825. Scott, Talism., ii. They had now arrived at … the fountain which welled out … in sparkling profusion.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxxii. Its glorious vineyards by that blue and sparkling sea.
fig. 1806. Wordsw., A Complaint, 10. That consecrated fount Of murmuring, sparkling, living love.
c. Of wines, etc.: (see SPARKLE v.1 4).
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 244. Drynke grene wyne, clere, sharpe, and sparklynge in tempure.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., V. 108. Two Goblets will I crown with sparkling Wine.
1757. Gray, Bard, 77. Fill high the sparkling bowl.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., ix. III. 162. Those to whom the sparkling champagne … was a novelty.
1833. Redding, Mod. Wines, v. 71. Champagne wines are divided into sparkling…, demi sparkling…, and still wines.
1888. Encycl. Brit., XXIV. 606/1. The sparkling champagnes are made from both white and red grapes.
transf. 1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 27. A pungent agreeable flavor, and a brilliant sparkling appearance.
d. Effervescent.
1844. G. Bird, Urin. Deposits (1857), 170. This mixture evolves enough carbonic acid to be ‘sparkling,’ and is generally taken with readiness.
e. In certain bird names, as sparkling pheasant, -tail (see quots.).
1861. Gould, Trochilidæ, III. pl. 168. Tryphæna Duponti, Sparkling-tail. The tail is rendered remarkably sparkling by the decided contrasts of its colours. Ibid. (1867), Birds Asia, VII. pl. 38. Phasianus Scintillans, Sparkling Pheasant.
4. Of talk, writing, etc.: Characterized by brilliancy and liveliness.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 129. His person beautiful, and graceful…; his wit pleasant, sparkling, and sublime.
1701. De Foe, True-born Eng., 35. It makes their Wit as sparkling as their Wine.
1795–1814. Wordsw., Excurs., II. 282. And he continued, when worse days were come, To deal about his sparkling eloquence.
1828. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 214. A piece of sparkling rhetoric.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 229. Another lively chronicle…, which sketches with … sparkling vivacity the virtues, the follies, and the shams of our own day.
1884. L. J. Jennings, Croker Papers, I. Pref. p. iii. Mr. Croker’s own letters were written in a singularly light and sparkling vein.
transf. 1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 268. The vigorous and sparkling touch adopted by Velasquez.
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXIII. 710/1. The modern characters … have finer strokes and serifs, and produce in the page a more regular and sparkling general effect.
5. Of persons: Brilliant, animated, sprightly.
a. 1704. T. Brown, To Belinda, v. Wks. 1711, IV. 100. Tho’ she’s as sparkling, and as fine As Jests, and Gemms, and Paint can make her.
1746. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 259. The voice, which so lately pronounced the sparkling pair husband and wife.
6. Of pleasure: Characterized by a high degree of delight or enjoyment.
1789. Burns, Lett. to Mrs. McMurdo, 2 May. Never did little Miss with more sparkling pleasure shew her applauded Samplar to partial Mama.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xlvii. 354. Privation one day, profusion the next, darkling dangers and sparkling joys. Zounds!
