scintilla
spark
noun sheen-TEEL-lah Rare
Origin: From Latin scintilla, spark.
Usage Note
Scintilla is used both literally (a spark from fire or metal) and figuratively for a glimmer of hope or intelligence: una scintilla di speranza. Its plural is regular: le scintille. The word entered English directly as 'scintilla', meaning a tiny trace.
Examples
"Una scintilla ha acceso il fuoco."
Natural Translation
A spark ignited the fire.
Literal Translation
A spark has lit the fire.
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