Pronunciation: [ah-'ro-rah]
Definition: (1) Dawn, after the Latin and Indo-European goddess of dawn. (2) An enormous luminous array of multi-colored light seen in northern and southern regions of the earth, caused by charged particles from the sun stimulating molecules in the earth's atmosphere.
Usage: We would hardly use today's word in reference to the daily aurora; "dawn" and "sunrise" are much too firmly linked to that sense. However, if we are lucky enough to see the rare spectacular light show, often accompanied by a concert of sound, we have no option for a name. In the northern hemisphere the aurora is called the aurora borealis or "northern lights" while in the southern hemisphere it is called the aurora australis or "southern lights." The plural is "aurorae." Capitalize the goddess' name but not the lights'.
Suggested Usage: Those steeped in classical myth might describe a sunrise as "the passion of Aurora exploding across the sky." But don't try it at the corner pub. You might characterize a monumental art exhibition as an auroral experience, creating your own adjective (or using mine). The dancing and singing multicolored lights of the aurorae borealis and australis are one of the natural wonders of the earth.
Etymology: Latin aurora "dawn, the goddess of dawn," from Proto-European *ausos "dawn" from the verb *aus- "to shine" with a rhotacized [s] (s > r). Akin to Greek eos "dawn" and English "east" but also Germanic *aust- whence "Austria" (current German Österreich "the Eastern kingdom"). "Easter" is another derivative.
