Added 9 October 2026
brightness
/ˈbɹaɪtnəs/ noun
In Latin: candor Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about brightness at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The quality of being bright.
- The perceived luminance of an object.
- Intelligence, cleverness.
Origin
From Middle English bryghtnes, brightnesse, from Old English beorhtnes (“brightness, splendor”), from Proto-West Germanic *berhtnassī, equivalent to bright + -ness. Cognate with Old High German berahtnessī, berahtnessi (“brightness”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)