Brilliance

Pronunciation: bril-yuhns

–noun

1. great brightness; luster: the brilliance of a fine diamond.

2. excellence or distinction; conspicuous talent, mental ability, etc.

3. splendor, elegance, or magnificence: the brilliance of the court of Louis XIV.

4. Optics. that luminance of a body consisting of its saturation and brightness.

Origin

1745–55; brilli(ant) + -ance

1. radiance, effulgence, refulgence. 2. illustriousness, preeminence; genius.

1, 2. dullness.