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Tinanam0102 Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Effervescence or Incandescence

Hi teachers,

There are two girls on the same team and they constantly driving each other up the walls. The situation about them is worse, and have escalated to the point of incandescene / effervescene.

I heard it a long time ago at a class critique. I'm not sure I heard it wrong, but it sounded like effervescene, I may be wrong. Would you please tell me?

Thanks

TN
  

Top answer

"indandescence" is possible. "incandescent" literally means "glowing with heat". Applied to people it can mean "extremely angry".

— Mr Wordy

  • "indandescence" is possible.
  • "incandescent" literally means "glowing with heat".
  • Applied to people it can mean "extremely angry".
  • "effervescence" doesn't seem right.
  • "effervescent" literally means "bubbling" (like a fizzy drink).
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7 Answers
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"indandescence" is possible. "incandescent" literally means "glowing with heat". Applied to people it can mean "extremely angry".

"effervescence" doesn't seem right. "effervescent" literally means "bubbling" (like a fizzy drink). It's also used to describe a "bubbly" personalilty (full of energy and fun).
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Hi Mr. Wordy,

Thanks again. My heart tells me that incandescence could be what the critic was referring to the girls in quarrel, but I just can't decide. Sometimes words could be of "figurative expresson" (not sure if this is the word).

Thanks

TN
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Could it possibly have been "ignescence"? I just found the word "ignescent" in a thesaurus - I'd never heard it before but it means combustible. The noun form "ignescence" seems to be a word in French, at least.

At least I've learned something new
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DelmobileCould it possibly have been "ignescence"? I just found the word "ignescent" in a thesaurus - I'd never heard it before but it means combustible. The noun form "ignescence" seems to be a word in French, at least.

At least I've learned something new

Me too. I've never heard that word either. I'd guess that hardly any English speakers
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Hi Demobile and Mr. Wordy,

Thank you. It's an interesting vocabulary I've learned today. I wonder if words like this one would ever be used in fictions to increase the level of vividness.

TN
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To my mind, using obscure words in lieu of carefully crafted metaphor - and moreover, metaphor that doesn't draw attention to itself - is one way to reduce the level of vividness in fiction writing.
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Hi Demobile,

That is very true, I'll remember that.

Thank you.

TN
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