ray
n.a narrow line of light or heat that comes from the sun or another bright object. It can also describe a small amount of a good feeling, like hope.
n.a narrow beam of light or other radiant energy, such as heat or X-rays, emanating from a central source. In a figurative sense, it denotes a slight but perceptible amount of a positive quality.
“A single ray of sunlight shines through the window.”
“The clouds parted for a moment, allowing a bright ray of light to illuminate the valley below.”
“Despite the grim economic forecast, the recent increase in consumer spending provided a small ray of hope for local business owners struggling to stay afloat.”
Often used in the phrase 'a ray of' followed by an abstract noun like 'hope', 'sunshine', or 'comfort'.
“For years, astronomers have puzzled over the sources of the highest-energy cosmic rays in our galaxy—particles accelerated to a quadrillion electron volts, or a petaelectronvolt (PeV; that's 15 zeros after 1).”
“Eclipse glasses - which will be handed out at events across Scotland hosted by astronomical societies or bought online - can offer protection from harmful rays of sunlight.”
Common in science and culture writing
* As an English surname, from pet forms derived from the root of Raymond. * Also as an English surname, from Old French rei (“king”). Compare Roy, King. * Also as an English surname, from Old English rā (“roe deer”). Compare Roe. * Also as an English surname, variant of Wray and Rye. * As a Scottish Gaelic surname, shortened from McRae. * As a French surname, from the verb raier (“to gush out, flow, radiate”). Compare Leray. * As a Polish and Slovene surname, Americanized from Raj, from raj (“paradise”). * As an Indian surname, variant of Rai.
From Persian ری (ray /rey), from Middle Persian, from Old Persian 𐎼𐎥𐎠 (r-g-a /ragā/), a Median district. Compare Akkadian 𒊏𒂵𒀪 (ra-ga-'), Elamite 𒊩𒋡𒀭 (rák-ka₄-an) (loc.), Ancient Greek Ῥάγαι (Rhágai), Latin Rhagae, Rhaganae, Iranian borrowings.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.