opalesce, v.
(əʊpəˈlɛs)
[f. opal + -esce, repr. L. -ēscere in albēscĕre, etc.: see opalescent.]
intr. To exhibit a play of colours or iridescence like that of the opal.
| 1819 J. G. Children Chem. Anal. 440 Nitrate of mercury is a very delicate test of the presence of hyposulphurous acid..when only one hundred-thousandth is present, it opalesces on a few minutes standing. |