I. ˈȯrēˌōl noun
or au·re·o·la ȯˈrēələ, əˈ-
( plural aureoles -ōlz ; or aureolas -ələz ; or aureo·lae -ˈrēə(ˌ)lē)
Etymology: Middle English & Medieval Latin; Middle English aureole, auriole, from Old French auriole, from Medieval Latin aureola, from Latin, feminine of aureolus golden, from aureus golden
1. Roman Catholicism : a special heavenly reward marked by a special degree of glory and given to those (as martyrs) who have practiced heroic virtue
2. fine art : an indication of radiant light around the head (as a nimbus) or body (as a vesica piscis) of a sacred personage
3. : a quality, condition, or circumstance that surrounds and glorifies a given object : radiance
the sweet aureole of youth
4.
a. : the luminous area surrounding the sun or other bright light when seen through thin cloud, fog, or mist : corona , glory
b. : the inner portion of a corona : the whole of an incompletely developed corona
5. geology : a more or less ring-shaped contact zone surrounding a comparatively small igneous intrusion
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to surround with an aureole
her head was aureoled with soft moonlight