Etymology
The word "iridescent" comes from the Late Latin word "iris," meaning rainbow, + the suffix "-escent," meaning "becoming."
Meaning
Iridescent describes something that exhibits a play of colors resembling those seen in a rainbow. It refers to the shimmering, rainbow-like effect caused by the interference of light with thin layers of material, such as a soap bubble or a butterfly wing.
Origin
The term "iris" was originally used to describe the colored part of the eye, which often has a rainbow-like appearance. The suffix "-escent" was used to indicate a tendency to become something, such as "florescence" (becoming more flowery).
The word "iridescent" first appeared in the early 19th century to describe the colorful effects seen in certain minerals and insects. Over time, it came to be used more broadly to refer to any phenomenon that displays a rainbow-like play of colors.
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