aureity (areiti)

[ aurelia (a-rē'lyä), n. [NL., aurelia , chrys IMG:content-1409.png:[blocks in formation] see aurum.] 1. In rep resent a tions of Deity, the Virgin Mary, saints, martyrs, etc., a radiance or luminous cloud emanating from and surrounding the whole figure. If the figure is represented in an erect position, the aureola is usually oval, or of the form known as the vesica piscis (fish's bladder); if the figure is sitting, the aureola often approaches a circular form. Aureola, nimbus, and glory are frequently confounded, though technically quite distinct. See nimbus and glory. There are some poets whom we picture to ourselves as surrounded with aureolas. Stedman, Vict. Poets, p. 114. 2. Anything resembling an aureola. Spe cifically-(a) In astron., the ring of light seen around the moon in total eclipses of the sun. (b) In meteor., a kind of halo surrounding a shadow cast upon a cloud or fogbank or dew-covered gra : often observed by aëronauts on the upper surface of clouds. Also called a glory. 3. In Rom . Cath . theol ., a higher reward added to the e ential bli of heaven as a recompense for a special spiritual victory gained by the person to whom it is attributed: as, the au- reola of virgins, martyrs, doctors, etc. aureole (a'rē-ōl), n. [ME. aureole (cf. F. au- réole ), aureola : see aureola . Cf. oriole.] A luminous emanation or cloud surrounding a figure or an object; an aureola. Fair shines the gilded aureole In which our highest painters place Some living woman's simple face. D. G. Ro etti , Jenny. And round the grisly fighter's hair the martyr's aureole bent! Whittier, Brown of O awatomie. When the electric arc is produced between carbons in vacuo a beautiful glow is obtained, the negative pole being surrounded by a blue aureole , and the positive by a stratified pale-blue light. A. Daniell , Prin. of Physics, p. 583. aureole (a'rē-ōl), v . t.; pret. and pp. aureoled , ppr. aureoling . [ aureole , n.] To surround or invest with an aureole.