lightning etymology

Etymology

The word "lightning" comes from the Old English word "lihtning," which means "a flash of light." It is related to the Proto-Germanic word likhtaz, meaning "light."

Meaning

Lightning is a sudden and powerful electrical discharge that occurs between clouds, between a cloud and the ground, or between the ground and the cloud. It is caused by the buildup of electrical charges in the atmosphere.

Origin

Lightning is created when there is a difference in electrical potential between two objects. In the case of lightning, this difference in potential is between the clouds and the ground. The positive charges in the clouds are attracted to the negative charges on the ground, and vice versa. As the charges build up, the electrical potential becomes stronger and stronger. Eventually, the potential becomes so great that the air between the clouds and the ground can no longer insulate the charges. This causes the charges to discharge in the form of a lightning bolt.

lightning relate terms

• light

  Etymology The word light comes from the Old English word liht meaning bright or

• allumette

  Etymology and Meaning of Allumette The word allumette is derived from the Old French

• elucidate

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It examines the chan

• illumination

  Etymology Latin illuminare to light up brighten enlighten Root lux light Me

• illustration

  Etymology and Meaning of Illustration The word illustration derives from the Latin word

• leukemia

  Etymology Leuk Greek White emia Greek Blood Meaning A type of cancer that

• leuko

  Etymology Greek λευκός leukos meaning white Meaning Prefix in medical

• light

  Etymology The word light comes from the Old English word liht meaning bright or

• lightning

  Etymology The word lightning comes from the Old English word lihtning which means a

• limn

  Etymology The word limn comes from the Middle English word lumynen which is itself d

• link

  Etymology The word link derives from the Middle Dutch word linc which means rope o

• lucent

  Etymology The word lucent is derived from the Latin word lucens which means shinin

• lucid

  Etymology The word lucid comes from the Latin word lucere which means to shine It

• Lucifer

  Etymology Latin Lucifer Meaning Light bringer or Morning star Origin Luci

• luciferase

  Etymology Luciferase is derived from two Latin words Lucifer Meaning light bringer

• luciferous

  Etymology The word luciferous is derived from the Latin word lucifer which means l

• lucifugous

  Etymology Latin lux light fugere to flee Literally meaning light fleeing

• lucubrate

  Etymology Latin lucubrare to work by candlelight From lux light cubare to

• lucubration

  Etymology Latin lucubratio meaning night work study by lamplight From lux mea

• luculent

  Etymology The word luculent originated from the Latin word luculentus which means

• lumen

  Etymology Latin lumen meaning light Meaning A unit of luminous flux in the In

• luminal

  Etymology Latin lumen light Proto Indo European lewk to shine Meaning Rel

• luminary

  Etymology The word luminary comes from the Latin word luminare which means light b

• luminate

  Etymology Latin illuminare to light up Old French illuminer Middle English lumine

• luminescence

  Etymology Latin lumen light escere to emit light Meaning and Origin Lum

• luminous

  Etymology The word luminous comes from the Latin word lumen which means light The

• luna

  Etymology Latin lūna from Proto Indo European leuk to shine Meaning Moon

• lunacy

  Etymology Old French lunacie Medieval Latin lunaticus Latin luna moon aticus adj

• lunar

  Etymology Latin lunaris Proto Italic lunos Proto Indo European leuks meani

• Lunarian

  Etymology The term Lunarian is a derivative of the Latin word Luna which refers to t

• lunate

  Etymology The word lunate derives from the Latin word luna meaning moon Meaning

• lunation

  Etymology Latin lunatio lunationis lunation noun Latin lunatus lunata lunatum m

• lunatic

  Etymology The word lunatic comes from the Latin word lunaticus which means moonstru

• lune

  Etymology The word lune comes from the Latin word luna which means moon Meaning

• lunette

  Etymology French Middle French lunette Italian lunetta Late Latin lunula small m

• luni

  Etymology Origin Old French lunis lundis Derivation From Latin Lunae dies mea

• luster

  Etymology Middle English lustre from Old French lustre from Latin lūstrum wash pu

• lustrum

  Etymology Latin lustrum Meaning purification atonement Origin The word lu

• pellucid

  Etymology and Meaning The word pellucid comes from the Latin word pellucidus which m

• sublunary

  Etymology Latin sublunaris Latin sub under lunaris of the moon Meaning a

• translucent

  Etymology of Translucent The word translucent comes from Latin through Old French

• fulminate

  Etymology Latin fulminare meaning to lighten to thunder Fulmen meaning light

• Franklin

  Etymology Derived from the Old French personal name Frankeleyn which is a diminutive

• Pegasus

  Etymology From Ancient Greek Πήγασος Pēgasos Meaning Swift or Winged

• eclair

  Etymology The word éclair comes from the French word éclair meaning lightning bo

• anaconda

• flash

  Etymology Flash From the Middle English flashen meaning to move quickly with a sud

• milk snake

  Etymology The scientific name for milk snakes is Lampropeltis triangulum Lampropeltis

• blot

  Etymology Middle English blott blot from Proto Germanic blōdaz meaning stain blo

• bolt

  Etymology The word bolt comes from the Old English word bolt which means a short t