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   powersoffour (powersoffour@mastodon.social)'s status on Thursday, 21-Mar-2024 02:27:16 JST powersoffour

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   • Karl Fogel

   @kfogel I think the most I've ever used the word "Scintilla" is talking about the LaTeX editor.

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     Karl Fogel (kfogel@kfogel.org)'s status on Thursday, 21-Mar-2024 02:27:18 JST Karl Fogel
     Unexpected connection, just noticed yesterday:
     
     There's the word "scintillating", which we use all the time.
     
     Then there's the word "scintilla", which we use very rarely -- indeed, I think I've heard it used almost exclusively in just one phrase: "without a scintilla of evidence".
     
     So what is a scintilla, and what is the connection between it and the act of scintillation?
     
     I guessed that a scintilla is some kind of small, silvery, tinsel-like object that sparkles with reflected light? Or something like that? Well, it turns out that's pretty close! https://www.etymonline.com/word/scintilla gives a more accurate definition, and shows roots going back to PIE.
     
     Back to your regularly scheduled programming, everyone.