erubescence

English

Alternative forms

• erubescency

Etymology

Mid 18th century. From Latin erubescens, from erubesco, from ex- +‎ rubesco. Compare French érubescence.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛɹʊˈbɛsəns/, /ˌɛɹuˈbɛsəns/

Noun

erubescence (usually uncountable, plural erubescences)

1. The act of becoming red; reddening.
2. Redness of the skin or surface of anything; a blushing.
   • 1861, John Brown, “Education Through the Senses”, in Spare Hours, page 306:

     I then ventured to ask the master to ask small and red Dougal what cutlery was; but from the sudden erubescence of his pallid, ill-fed cheek, and the alarming brightness of his eyes, I twigged at once that he didn't himself know what it meant.

3. Reddishness.

Coordinate terms

• albescence (“becoming white”), cerulescence (“becoming blue”), flavescence (“becoming yellow”), nigrescence (“becoming black”), virescence (“becoming green”)

Related terms

• erubescent