scintilla

Existing in English since the 17th century[1]; borrowed from Latin scintilla (“spark”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /sɪnˈtɪlə/

scintilla (plural scintillae or scintillas)

1. A small spark or flash.
   • 1890, Philosophical Magazine, page 364,

     If the action of the electrodynamic waves is so violent that, even without artificial electrification of the secondary conductor, scintillæ occur in its spark-gap, the aluminium leaves remain almost without change.

2. A small or trace amount.
   • 1876 February, John Tyndall, The Controversy on Acoustical Research, Popular Science Monthly,

     And, if I except the sagacious remark of General Duane which has been so curtly brushed aside, not a scintilla of light has been cast upon these causes by any researches ever published by the Lighthouse Board of Washington.

   • 1878 April, John Tyndall, Illustrations of the Logic of Science IV, Popular Science Monthly,

     Now, it may be we have no scintilla of proof to the contrary, but reason is unnecessary in reference to that belief which is of all the most settled, which nobody doubts or can doubt, and which he who should deny would stultify himself in so doing.

   • 1990, William J. Brennan, Jr., Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health: Dissent Brennan, United States Supreme Court,

     Current medical practice recommends use of heroic measures if there is a scintilla of a chance that the patient will recover, on the assumption that the measures will be discontinued should the patient improve.

• (small amount): see also Thesaurus:modicum.

• scintilla juris
• scintillate
• scintillation
• scintillator
• stencil
• tinsel

scintilla

1. third-person singular past historic of scintiller

From Latin scintilla.

scintilla f (plural scintille)

1. spark

scintilla

1. third-person singular present of scintillare
2. second-person singular imperative of scintillare

Most likely from Proto-Indo-European *ski-nto-, from *skey-, *ski- (“to gleam, shine”), which is the source of English shine.

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /skinˈtil.la/, [skɪnˈtɪl.la]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ʃinˈtil.la/

scintilla f (genitive scintillae); first declension

1. spark
   • Quintus Curtius Rufus, Historiarum Alexandri Magni Macedonis Libri Qui Supersunt; Book VI, Chapter III

     Parva saepe scintilla contempta magnum excitavit incendium.

     A small spark neglected has often roused to a great inferno.

2. glimmer

First declension.

• scintillō

• ⇒ Vulgar Latin: *scintilia
  • → Albanian: shkëndijë
  • Aromanian: scãntealji
  • Romanian: scânteie
• ⇒ Vulgar Latin: *stincilla
  • Old French: estancele
    • Middle French: estincelle
      • English: tinsel
      • French: étincelle
• → English: scintilla
• Italian: scintilla
• Old Leonese:
  • Asturian: centella
• Old Occitan:
  • Catalan: centella
• Old Portuguese: centella
  • Portuguese: centelha
• Old Spanish:
  • Spanish: centella
• Sardinian: schinchidha, scincidha
• Venetian: s-ciantixo, sciantizha, sintiła

• scintilla in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• scintilla in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• scintilla in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)