Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHINE, v.i. [pret. shined or shone; pp. shined or shone. Sax. scinan; D. schuynen; G. scheinen; Sw. skina. If s is a prefix, this word accords with the root of L. canus, caneo; W. càn, white, bright. See Cant.]

1. To emit rays of light; to give light; to beam with steady radiance; to exhibit brightness or splendor; as, the sun shines by day; the moon shines by night. Shining differ from sparkling, glistening, glittering, as it usually implies steady radiation or emission of light, whereas the latter words usually imply irregular or interrupted radiation. This distinction is not always observed, and we may say, the fixed stars shine, as well as that they sparkle. But we never say, the sun or the moon sparkles.
2. To be bright; to be lively and animated; to be brilliant. Let thine eyes shine forth in their full luster. – Denham.
3. To be unclouded; as, the moon shines. – Bacon.
4. To be glossy or bright, as silk. Fish with their fins and shining scales. – Milton.
5. To be gay or splendid. So proud she shined in her princely state. – Spenser.
6. To be beautiful. Once brightest shin'd this child of heat and air. – Pope.
7. To be eminent, conspicuous or distinguished; as, to shine in courts. – Phil. ii. Few are qualified to shine in company. – Swift.
8. To give light, real or figurative. The light of righteousness bath not shined to us. – Wisdom.
9. To manifest glorious excellencies. – Ps. lxxx.
10. To be clearly published. – Is. ix.
11. To be conspicuously displayed; to be manifest. Let your light so shine before men. Matth. v. To cause the face to shine, to be propitious. – Num. vi. Ps. lxvii.