What does lustered mean?
Lustered means to shine brightly or to appear radiant, especially in response to an emotion. The word is used chiefly as the past tense or past participle of luster, and it occurs particularly often in descriptions of eyes that “lustered with delight,” “lustered with pride,” or “lustered with excitement.” This usage gives the word a warm, figurative quality: an intense feeling seems to produce a visible gleam. It can also describe an object with a smooth, glossy sheen, as when polished wood or a silver bracelet lusters in the light. Although the vocabulary site uses the American spelling lustered, the traditional British spelling is lustred, corresponding to the noun and verb lustre. Lustered is literary and descriptive rather than common in neutral everyday speech, so writers often choose it when they want to emphasize brightness, animation, or emotional intensity.
To shine brightly or gleam, especially in a way that suggests emotional radiance.
"The diamond lustered under the display lights."
The past tense and past participle of luster; the British spelling is lustred.
Bright, shining, glossy, or radiant, especially as a result of an intense emotion.
"He exchanged lustered glances with his partner across the room."
Used as a participial adjective, especially of eyes, expressions, or surfaces.
Say “lustered with delight” and the eyes become a surface on which emotion visibly shines.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lustered come from?
The word belongs to the English family of luster, the traditional British spelling of which is lustre. English borrowed the form from Old French lustre, ultimately from Latin, where lustrum was associated with purification and illumination. The verb meaning “to shine” developed in the modern English period, while the closely related lustrous preserves the idea of a bright or glossy surface.
Related word forms
How lustered is actually used
Chiefly used as the past tense and past participle of luster. It is especially common with the eyes or a face to suggest an emotional radiance. British spelling traditionally uses lustred and lustre, while American spelling generally uses lustered and luster.
Easily confused with lustered
Lustered means to shine or appear radiant, whereas lusted means to experience strong sexual desire.