Thread: Origin of the Word 'Lucid'

Latin lucidus, from lucere, to shine; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.

Dunno if that's any help.

Originally Posted by HyperNova

Latin lucidus, from lucere, to shine; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.

Dunno if that's any help.

Yea i searched and got something like "To be in the light".

Dam Illuminati, theres me thinking i was safe but they are in my favourite hobby and i didn't even know,

Yea sorry for the double, but this deserves it.

I suppose the real concern of mine was if there was a relation to the word Lucid to the word Lucifer.
After searching a bit more I found that the main component from each word (the 'Luc' part) comes from the Latin'lux' or 'light'. So a 'Lucid' person is a person in the light, or an illuminated person - aware, knowledgeable etc.
And the 'fer' part in 'Lucifer' means 'bearing', so Lucifer would be the 'light bearer'.

Quoted from alpha dictionary:

Lucid (adj): 1) easily understood, clear, intelligible.
2) Showing an ability to think clearly.
This word comes from the Latin root “Lucidus” which means “bright”.

Contextual example:
Because of the professors lucid explanation the abstruse theory of quantum physics started to seem a tad more manageable to the students.

Lucent (adj): shining.
The root “lucidus” is derived form Latin root “lucere” which means, “to shine”, which in turn is derived from the root “lux” which means light. So something that gives out light is lucent.

If you might remember the firm by the name “Lucent technologies” create a mnemonic relating this word to the firm.

Contextual example:
Her lucent countenance belied her melancholic disposition.

In simple words her shining face misrepresented her sad mood. J

Another common cognate of this word is translucent.

Translucent (adj): allowing light to pass through partially; semi transparent.
This word can be split as “trans” (as in transparent, transgression) which means “through “+ “lucere”. Thus something that allows light to pass through partially is translucent.

Contextual example:
The presence of dregs made the water translucent.

Lux (N): SI unit of illumination.

As we have seen the Latin root “lux” means “light”, as far as remembering this root goes I would suggest link it up with the soap brand Lux (Lux aur kya J Imagine that by using this soap your countenance will radiate light, and finally we engineers would be able to find a cheap alternative source of energy).

Pellucid (adj): transparent, limpid, easy to understand.

This word can be split up as “per” which means “through” (as in perambulate, perdition)+ lucere. So something through which lux (light) can pass completely is pellucid.

Contextual example:
Just by looking through the pellucid water one was able to plumb the depth of the lake.

Contextual example:
In his third novel the writer veered of from his pellucid style of writing.

Lucifer (N): the devil, the planet Venus when it rises in the morning, (archaic) a match.

This word can be split up as lux (light) + fer (bearing) thus the meaning develops as light bearing, morning star. “Morning star” is a roman astrological term for the planet Venus, which is the brightest object in the sky after sun and moon. It reaches its maximum brightness shortly before sunrise and shortly after sunset hence the name.

Now the meaning “devil” comes from an archangel by the name Lucifer who in heaven motivated by pride led a revolution against god. On failing he was cast out of heaven .He is associated with the Satan (a word related to shaitan) (the devil) because of this revolt.

If there are any “Rasmus” fans over here like me they might know the song “Lucifer’s angel”.

Elucidate (V): explain, enlighten

This word can be split up as “e” which means “out “+ “lucid”, thus to make something lucid, clear the thing out is to elucidate it.

Contextual example:
In his presentation he tried to elucidate his theory, which propounded a linguistical pattern in Tamil and Korean language.


Regards,
V

I want to enter the field of etymology can anybody suggest me some places/courses for the formal study of the same.

So in conclusion the words seem to be linked only by this definition 'light' part - a Lucid person is a bright person, and neither word 'came from' the other.

Phew - Was worried I was gonna find some nasty witchcraft links to the whole Lucid thing. Doesn't look like it...

...for now

I believe, in relation to dreams, Frederik Van Eeden was the first to use the word "Lucid". Maybe I just made that up, but here is an excerpt:

I know that Mr. Havelock Ellis and many other authors will not accept my definition, because they deny the possibility of complete recollection and free volition in a dream. They would say that what I call a dream is no dream, but a sort of trance, or hallucination, or ecstacy. The observations of the Marquis d'Herve, which were very much like mine, as related in his book, Les Reves et les moyens de les diriger, were discarded in the same way. These dreams could not be dreams, said Maury.

Now this is simply a question of nomenclature. I can only say that I made my observations during normal deep and healthy sleep, and that in 352 cases I had a full recollection of my day-life, and could act voluntarily, though I was so fast asleep that no bodily sensations penetrated into my perception. If anybody refuses to call that state of mind a dream, he may suggest some other name. For my part, it was just this form of dream, which I call "lucid dreams," which aroused my keenest interest and which I noted down most carefully.

I quite agree with Mr. Havelock Ellis, that during sleep the psychical functions enter into a condition of dissociation. My contention, however, is that it is not dissociation, but, on the contrary, reintegration, after the dissociation of sleep, that is the essential feature of dreams. The dream is a more or less complete reintegration of the psyche, a reintegration in a different sphere, in a psychical, nonspatial mode of existence. This reintegration may go so far as to effect full recollection of day-life, reflection, and voluntary action on reflection.

Interesting. Is that from a book?

It is from his (1913?) paper "A Study of Dreams"

http://www.lucidity.com/vanEeden.html

I probably should have posted that link originally

I do Latin - 'Lux' means 'Light'
and in French 'Lucid' means 'Real.'

Makes sense.

We are the adams and eves eating the forbidden apple when LUCID!

Originally Posted by GenericUser10621

and in French 'Lucid' means 'Real.'

No it doesn't. Où as-tu appris cela?

Originally Posted by Life

We are the adams and eves eating the forbidden apple when LUCID!



No it doesn't. Où as-tu appris cela?

fruit*


Et oui, je veux savoir ou aussi.

Originally Posted by Dizko

fruit*


Et oui, je veux savoir ou aussi.

hehe thanks for the correction

Le mot lucide ne veut pas dire réel!

D'après le petit larousse 1995 par exemple: "Qui est en pleine possession de ses facultés intellectuelles ; conscient. 2. Perspicace, clairvoyant."

But anyway that's only a detail. The apple's taste is more important

Originally Posted by Dizko

Does anyone know?

I tried Google but to no avail.

lucid from latin lucĭdus (lukidus)
Derivative adjetive from lux, according to the dictionary: Light, bright, clarity, fire, light of day, day, star, light of life, life, light of the eyes, eyes, advertising, bright of the metals, explanation, illustration, salvation, health, new life.

There's a latin expression that means "to give brith": in lucem edere, literally "to give to light" (I think it doesn't exist in English, but I'm not sure in Spanish is "dar a luz")