lucid

Definitions

From Latin lūcidus, 'full of light, bright,' from lūcēre (to shine). A lucid explanation is so well-lit that you can see straight through the argument — nothing hidden in shadow. The same image of light applies to the mind: a lucid moment is when mental fog lifts and someone can think clearly again. Light stands for clarity throughout.

Why It Means This

Lucid does double duty because Latin lūcidus literally meant 'bright with light.' Apply that to words and you get clarity of expression; apply it to the mind and you get clarity of thought. The two senses share one metaphor: understanding is light, confusion is darkness. That's also why a 'lucid interval' (a clear spell during illness or dementia) and a 'lucid dream' (one you're consciously aware of) both use the same word.

Common Collocations

• 1.lucid explanation清晰的解释
• 2.lucid prose清晰的文笔
• 3.remarkably lucid异常清晰的
• 4.lucid moment清醒的时刻
• 5.lucid interval清醒间歇
• 6.lucid dream清醒梦

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Her lucid explanation made a difficult topic suddenly easy to grasp.

• 2.

  The professor is admired for his lucid, jargon-free writing.

• 3.

  In a rare lucid moment, the patient recognized his daughter and spoke her name.

• 4.

  She kept a journal of her lucid dreams, where she knew she was dreaming.

Easily Confused

lucid vs clear — both mean easy to understand, but lucid is a writer's compliment: it praises prose or thinking that is elegantly transparent. 'Clear' is everyday and broad (a clear sky, a clear answer); 'lucid' is reserved for explanations, arguments, writing, or states of mind. You wouldn't call the weather lucid.

Synonym Comparison