Any latin, my tags aren't a mistake. The more variations the better thanks
1 Answer
In any sense, the word to use is scintilla, 'spark' (possibly scintillula, though it would probably then be better translated as 'gleam').
Cicero in de Republica 2, 21 has:
qui cum famulorum numero educatus ad epulas regis adsisteret, non latuit scintilla ingenii quae iam tum elucebat in puero.
answered Aug 15, 2019 at 16:31
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I have come across so-called scintillation detectors when studying particle physics, and those are indeed based on "sparks of energy". I fully support this choice (or scintillula for a small spark), not only because it will be readily understandable for a number of physicists. I think the same choice will work for all eras, only with slightly different pronunciations.– Joonas Ilmavirta ♦Commented Aug 15, 2019 at 19:49
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@Joonas Ilmavirta Takes me back to my long-forgotten days in neutron activation analysis! Commented Aug 15, 2019 at 21:14