scintilla

plural scintillae · plural scintillas

1. A small spark or flash.

   If the action of the electrodynamic waves is so violent that, even without artificial electrification of the secondary conductor, scintillæ occur in its spark-gap, the aluminium leaves remain almost without change.

   1890, Philosophical Magazine, page 364

2. figurativelyA small or trace amount.

   a scintilla of hope

   5 more examples

   And, if I except the sagacious remark of General Duane which has been so curtly brushed aside, not a scintilla of light has been cast upon these causes by any researches ever published by the Lighthouse Board of Washington.

   1876 February, John Tyndall, “The Controversy on Acoustical Research”, in Popular Science Monthly

   Now, it may be we have no scintilla of proof to the contrary, but reason is unnecessary in reference to that belief which is of all the most settled, which nobody doubts or can doubt, and which he who should deny would stultify himself in so doing.

   1878 April, John Tyndall, “Illustrations of the Logic of Science IV”, in Popular Science Monthly

   Current medical practice recommends use of heroic measures if there is a scintilla of a chance that the patient will recover, on the assumption that the measures will be discontinued should the patient improve.

   1990, William J. Brennan, Jr., Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health: Dissent Brennan, United States Supreme Court

   It’s 3pm at Rizes, a farm in the heart of Mykonos, and there is not a champagne bottle in sight, a sunbed to lounge on, or a scintilla of music that might drown the sound of the winds breezing through the nearby bamboo.

   2022 September 4, Helena Smith, “Mykonos has had its fill of champagne-fuelled tourism”, in The Observer

   [JD] Vance has only a scintilla of the experience that many previous vice presidents had. But he can best them in contemptuousness.

   2026 February 16, Frank Bruni, “Pam Bondi and the MAGA Brand of Insult Politics”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: ace, atom, thought, atomy, aught, bissel, continental, bit