The quality or state of sparkling brightly with reflected light; a shimmering or glittering effect.
From glitter (Old Norse glitra, to glitter) + -ance (Latin suffix forming nouns of state or quality). The word combines the verb glitter with the abstract noun suffix to describe the quality of sparkling.
This rare word perfectly captures why diamonds are prized—their glitterance isn't just about being shiny, it's about the specific optical property of how light bounces through their crystal structure. Medieval writers used similar -ance words to describe abstract qualities they couldn't quite see but could definitely observe.
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