"iridescence like that of an opal, a play of colors milky rather than brilliant," 1792; see opalescent + -ence. Perhaps via French opalescence.
"having variegated and changing colors like those of an opal," 1810, from opal + -escent. Perhaps via French opalescent.
see -ance.
updated on August 29, 2019
英语词源词典收录了45867条英语词源词条，基本涵盖了全部常用英语词汇的起源、历史，是研究英语词汇或通过词源学英语的必备工具。