Lewis & Short

splendesco (perf. dŭi, Aug. Conf. 10, 27), 3, v. inch. n. [splendeo], to become bright or shining, to derive lustre from a thing (rare; in Cic. only in a trop. sense).

  1. I. Lit.: incipiat sulco attritus splendescere vomer, Verg. G. 1, 46: vidimus Aetnaeā caelum splendescere flammā, Ov. P. 2, 10, 23: corporasucco pinguis olivi Splendescunt, id. M. 10, 177: gladius usu splendescit, App. Flor. 3, p. 357: largo splendescat ignis ture, Sen. Herc. Oet. 691.
  2. II. Trop.: nihil est tam incultum, quod non splendescat oratione, Cic. Par. prooem. § 3: canorum illud in voce splendescit etiam in senectute, id. Sen. 9, 28: nec jam splendescit (opus) lima, sed atteritur, Plin. Ep. 5, 11, 3.