, the _glare_ of torches; the
_glow_ of dying embers. _Shine_ and _shining_ refer to a steady or
continuous emission of _light_; _sheen_ is a faint _shining_, usually by
reflection. _Glimmer_, _glitter_, and _shimmer_ denote wavering _light_.
We speak of the _glimmer_ of distant lamps through the mist; of the
_shimmer_ of waves in sun_light_ or moon_light_. A _gleam_ is not
wavering, but transient or intermittent; a sudden _gleam_ of _light_
came through the half-open door; a _glitter_ is a hard _light_; as, the
_glitter_ of burnished arms. A _sparkle_ is a sudden _light_, as of
sparks thrown out; _scintillation_ is the more exact and scientific term
for the actual emission of sparks, also the figurative term for what
suggests such emission; as, _scintillations_ of wit or of genius.
_Twinkle_ and _twinkling_ are used of the intermittent _light_ of the
fixed stars. _Glistening_ is a _shining_ as from a wet surface.
_Illumination_ is a wide-spread, brilliant _light_, as when all the
windows of a house or of a street are lighted. The _light_ of
_incandescence_ is intense and white like that from metal at a white
heat.

Antonyms:

blackness, darkness, dusk, gloominess, shade,
dark, dimness, gloom, obscurity, shadow.

* * * * *

LIKELY.

Synonyms:

apt, conceivable, liable, probable,
credible, conjectural, presumable, reasonable.

_Apt_ implies a natural fitness or tendency; an impetuous person is
_apt_ to speak hastily. _Liable_ refers to a contingency regarded as
unfavorable; as, the ship was _liable_ to founder at any moment.
_Likely_ refers to a contingent event regarded as very probable, and
usually, tho not always, favorable; as, an industrious worker is
_likely_ to succeed. _Credible_ signifies readily to be believed; as, a
_credible_ narrative; _likely_ in such connection is used ironically to
signify the reverse; as, a _likely_ story! A thing is _conceivable_ of
which the mind can entertain the possibility; a thing is _conjectural_
which is conjectured as possible or probable without other support than
a conjecture, or tentative judgment; a thing is _presumable_ which, from
what is antecedently known, may betaken for granted in advance of proof.
_Reasonable_ in this connection signifies such as the reason can be
satisfied with, independently of external grounds for belief or
disbelief; as, that seems a _reasonable_ supposition. Compare A