iridescence
UK[ˌɪr.ɪˈdes.əns]US[ˌɪr.əˈdes.əns]
n
The phenomenon of showing luminous colours that seem to change when seen from different angles.
n
A visual property of a surface where the hue changes with the angle of observation and illumination.
Morpheme Breakdown
irid
escence
irid
rainbow
escence
state or process of becoming
Etymology
The word 'iridescence' is a direct descendant of the Latin 'iris', which referred to the rainbow and was itself borrowed from the Greek goddess Iris, the personification of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods. The suffix '-escence', indicating a state or process, was attached in modern scientific Latin to form 'iridescentia', describing the property of exhibiting rainbow-like colours. This term was adopted into English in the late 18th century to name the optical phenomenon where surfaces appear to shift in colour, much like the ethereal and shifting bands of light in a rainbow. Thus, the word literally encodes the concept of "being in a rainbow-like state."
Analysis
Structure: irid (rainbow) + escence (state or process of becoming)
The morpheme 'irid' originates from Latin 'iris, iridis', meaning 'rainbow'. The morpheme 'escence' is a suffix from Latin '-escentia', denoting a state or process of becoming.
Examples
The soap bubble's delicate iridescence shimmered with every colour of the spectrum.
The oil spill on the wet pavement created a disturbing but vivid iridescence.
The museum displayed a collection of ancient glass that had developed a beautiful iridescence over centuries.