gleam

n. [ OE. glem, gleam, AS. glæm, prob. akin to E. glimmer, and perh. to Gr. &unr_; warm, &unr_; to warm. Cf. Glitter. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A shoot of light; a small stream of light; a beam; a ray; a glimpse. [ 1913 Webster ]

Transient unexpected gleams of joi. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

At last a gleam
Of dawning light turned thitherward in haste
His [ Satan's ] traveled steps. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

A glimmer, and then a gleam of light. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Brightness; splendor. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the clear azure gleam the flocks are seen. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. OE. glem birdlime, glue, phlegm, and E. englaimed. ] (Falconry) To disgorge filth, as a hawk. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Gleamed p. pr. & vb. n. Gleaming. ] 1. To shoot, or dart, as rays of light; as, at the dawn, light gleams in the east. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To shine; to cast light; to glitter.

Syn. -- To Gleam, Glimmer, Glitter. To gleam denotes a faint but distinct emission of light. To glimmer describes an indistinct and unsteady giving of light. To glitter imports a brightness that is intense, but varying. The morning light gleams upon the earth; a distant taper glimmers through the mist; a dewdrop glitters in the sun. See Flash. [ 1913 Webster ]