▪ I. glittering, vbl. n.
(ˈglɪtərɪŋ)
[f. glitter v. + -ing1.]
The action of the vb. glitter.
| 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 3 b, To the intent that..this maner might shew some glittring. 1607 J. Davies Summa Totalis E iv, Which nought comes nere for Clouds and Glitterings. 1635–56 Cowley Davideis ii. 12 So near a storm wise David would not stay, Nor trust the glittering of a faithless Day. 1678 Dryden All for Love Pref. b 3 If a little glittering in discourse has pass'd them on us for witty men, where was the necessity of undeceiving the World? |
† b. concr. Something that glitters. Obs.
| 1670 Eachard Cont. Clergy 46 They count all discourses empty, dull, and cloudy, unless bespangl'd with these glitterings. c 1698 Locke Cond. Underst. Introd. §3 Every Man carries about with him a Touchstone, if he will make use of it to distinguish substantial Gold from superficial Glitterings. |
▪ II. ˈglittering, ppl. a.
[f. glitter v. + -ing2.]
1. That glitters. lit. and fig.
| 13.. Seuyn Sages (W.) 3335 With gerlandes & with gleterand thing Was sho made out of knawing. a 1400–50 Alexander 3346 Þe sext of gletirand gold gayle was forgid. a 1550 Christis Kirk Gr. xviii, Her glitterand hair that wes full gowdin, Sa hard in lufe him laist. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia i. (1598) 81 O glittring miseries of man. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 534 Glorious and glittering painters. 1617 F. Moryson Itin. iii. 171 It is proverbially said, that the..Neopolitans are glittering and sumptuous. a 1700 Soame & Dryden Boileau's Art Poetry i. 44 Let Italians be Vain Authors of false glitt'ring Poetry. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 45 Ye glittering towns, with wealth and splendour crown'd. 1818 Hazlitt Eng. Poets vii. (1870) 185 The thistle's glittering down. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey iv. v, His glittering youth was gone and wasted. 1874 L. Stephen Hours in Library (1892) II. iv. 110 The satire is..more distantly allied to poetical unction than to glittering rhetoric. |
2. glittering generality (orig. U.S.), a platitude or cliché; used (esp. in pl.) of superficially convincing but empty phrases characteristic of the language of politicians, advertisements, etc.
| 1849 Providence (Rhode Island) Jrnl. 14 Dec. 2/6 We fear that the glittering generalities of the speaker have left an impression more delightful than permanent. 1892 W. S. Walsh Handy-bk. Lit. Curiosities 416 Glittering generalities,..the sounding but uncompromising resolutions which make up the greater part of the platforms of political parties in the United States. 1958 R. Brown Words & Things ix. 339 The works of Christ, Buddha, Kierkegaard, and Laotse are filled with emotional expressions and glittering generalities. 1981 N.Y. Times 12 Mar. a22/6 It is to be hoped that Mrs. Shriver's book will avoid glittering generalities and describe concretely how families' participation in their children's lives can be made into a positive force. 1986 Summary World Broadcasts: Soviet Union (B.B.C.) 4 Sept. a1/2 National interest is a slogan, a..glittering generality, a cliche, behind which a whole lot of bad designs..have hidden themselves throughout history. |
Hence ˈglitteringly adv., in a glittering manner.
| 1611 Cotgr., Luisantement,..glitteringly. 1647 H. More Song of Soul ii. ii. ii. xvi, The nimble phantasie..more glitterandly Displayes her spreaden forms. 1820 Moir in Blackw. Mag. VII. 627 Pendant and twining glitteringly, Like amethysts of purple dye. 1887 Pall Mall G. 12 Nov. 1/2 Briskly and glitteringly carriage after carriage rolls by. |