When is the last time someone called you a scintillating conversationalist?

Never, you say?

Not to worry. It’s likely not because you are not a great talker, but because scintillating is one of those words that we just don’t use very often anymore.

It’s a shame, because who doesn’t want to expand their vocabulary?

In the original Latin, the noun scintilla meant spark or glimmer. From there it came to refer to a small particle or trace and developed both a literal and figurative usage.

Scintillating is now used to refer to something that sparkles literally – like diamonds –

or figuratively – like an invigorating conversation or a dynamic personality.

And if you think I’m making this up – there’s not a scintilla of evidence to support that.