dazzling

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of dazzle

comparative more dazzling · superlative most dazzling

1. Extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily; bright to the degree that dazzles.

   [H]is ſupercilious glances grevv humbled, yea, his dazeling ſplendor (eclipſt in the ſetting [i.e., death] of his Maſter) becomes quickly darkned: […]

   1638, Tho[mas] Herbert, Some Yeares Travels Into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique. […], 2nd edition, London: […] R[ichard] Bi[sho]p for Iacob Blome and Richard Bishop, →OCLC, book II, page 206

   3 more examples

   There is something in intense suffering that seeks concealment, something that is fain to belie itself. In Cooper's novel of the "Bravo," Jacques conceals himself and his boat, by lying where the moonlight fell dazzling on the water. We do the same with any great despair, we shroud it in a glittering atmosphere of smiles and jests; but the smiles are sneers, and the jests are sarcasms.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Success”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 80

   The deafening claps of thunder and the dazzling flashes of lightning which lit up the ghastly scene testified that the artillery of heaven had lent its supernatural pomp to the already gruesome spectacle.

   1922 February 2, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC

   Driving 2-6-2 locomotive No. 4771 Green Arrow, Blunt suddenly noticed that the tunnel mouth was silhouetted in a dazzling white glare and that incendiary bombs were showering down in their hundreds, he slammed on all his brakes and brought his train to a stop just inside the tunnel.

   1944 July and August, “Top Link Drivers: XXI—Driver H. Blunt, L.N.E.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 226

2. Very brilliant or splendid in display; that dazzles the mind of the observer.

   Oakland native [Andre] Ward is now unbeaten in 25 fights and can now claim to be one of the top few pound-for-pound fighters on the planet after a technically dazzling display.

   2011 December 18, Ben Dirs, “Carl Froch outclassed by dazzling Andre Ward”, in BBC Sport

plural dazzlings

1. The action of the verb to dazzle; dazzlement

   Our organization secures the greatest amount of good unbalanced by accomplished evil of any known system, a good which resembles the sober hue of massive gold, rather than the splendid dazzlings of a baser metal.

   1837, Minutes of the General Association of Massachusetts