n. & v.
--n.
1. a faint or brief light (a gleam of sunlight).
2 a faint, sudden, intermittent, or temporary show (not a gleam of hope).
--v.intr.
1. emit gleams.
2 shine with a faint or intermittent brightness.
3 (of a quality) be indicated (fear gleamed in his eyes).
Derivatives:
gleamingly adv. gleamy adj.
Etymology: OE gl{aelig}m: cf. GLIMMER