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scintilla

[ sin-til-uh ]

/ sɪnˈtɪl ə /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR scintilla ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a minute particle; spark; trace: not a scintilla of remorse.

Origin of scintilla

1685–95; < Latin: spark

Words nearby scintilla

scindapsus, scinticisternography, scintigram, scintigraph, scintigraphy, scintilla, scintillant, scintillascope, scintillate, scintillating, scintillating scotoma

Example sentences from the Web for scintilla

That had more than a scintilla of substance—is Mitt actually a political shape-shifter?

Hilary Rosen, Ann Romney, and the Perpetual Outrage Industry |Howard Kurtz |April 17, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
How could anyone do all this without leaving behind a scintilla of microscopic evidence?

Stop Calling It Murder |Roy Black |September 10, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
Forde is among those who note that every scintilla of blame cannot be put on FitzPatrick and Drumm.

The Men Who Killed the Economy |Niall Stanage |November 19, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
It does take a certain talent to take Paul Newman and present the actor without a scintilla of excitement.

Ralph Nader's Fantasies |Samuel P. Jacobs |September 21, 2009 |DAILY BEAST

I have not a scintilla of interest in being at court when the judge sentences him.

The Bag Lady Papers, Part VIII |Alexandra Penney |June 28, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
This seems to me to have not a scintilla of justice about it.

The Mormon Puzzle, and How to Solve It |R. W. Beers
James Crossley seems to believe that there was "some scintilla of truth" behind the story.

A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718 |Wallace Notestein
This charge Mr. Harrison makes with brazen effrontery, but does not bring a scintilla of evidence to sustain it.

Assassination of Lincoln: a History of the Great Conspiracy |Thomas Mealey Harris
Don't be jealous, Scintilla; we're next to you women, too, believe me.

The Satyricon, Complete |Petronius Arbiter
Scintilla also cried out through her tears, calling him "Gaius," and entreating him by his guardian angel to be mollified.

The Satyricon, Complete |Petronius Arbiter

British Dictionary definitions for scintilla

scintilla

/ (sɪnˈtɪlə) /

noun

a minute amount; hint, trace, or particle

Word Origin for scintilla

C17: from Latin: a spark