Definition of glare

The word "glare" originated in the early 17th century, when it first appeared in the English language as "glario," which was a Latin word meaning "gleaming" or "shining." This Latin term was borrowed from the Greek word "glearnesthai," which was the present tense of the Greek verb "glearnomai," meaning "to light up" or "to gleam." In the English language, the usage of "glario" as a noun meaning "a gleaming surface" and as a verb meaning "to shine or gleam" was recorded in the mid-17th century. However, in the late 19th century, the meaning of "glare" shifted to describe an uncomfortable or intense brightness or light, as we understand it today. This change in meaning was likely due to the increasing use of powerful lights, such as electric lamps and arc lamps, which created a new sensation of discomfort and visual strain. In summary, the word "glare" evolved from its Latin and Greek linguistic roots, which referred to shining or gleaming surfaces, into its modern English meaning of intense or uncomfortable brightness, due to the development of powerful artificial lighting in the late 19th century.