Etymology

brilliancy (n.)

"quality of being brilliant," 1747; see brilliant + abstract noun suffix -cy. Also compare brilliance.

Entries linking to brilliancy

brilliant (adj.)
"sparkling with light or luster," 1680s, from French brilliant "sparkling, shining" present participle of briller "to shine" (16c.), from Italian brillare "sparkle, whirl," perhaps from Vulgar Latin *berillare "to shine like a beryl," from berillus "beryl, precious stone," from Latin beryllus (see beryl).

Figurative sense of "distinguished by admirable qualities" is from 1848. Of diamonds from 1680s in reference to a flat-topped cut invented 17c. by Venetian cutter Vincenzo Peruzzi. Related: Brilliantly; brilliantness.
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-cy 
abstract noun suffix of quality or rank, from Latin -cia, -tia, from Greek -kia, -tia, from abstract ending -ia (see -ia) + stem ending -c- or -t-. The native correspondents are -ship, -hood.
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brilliance (n.)
"quality of being brilliant," 1755, from brilliant + -ance. Figurative sense (of wit, intelligence, etc.) is from 1779. Distinguished from brilliancy in that the latter usually is applied to things measurable in degrees.
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Definitions of brilliancy

brilliancy (n.)
a quality that outshines the usual;
Synonyms: luster / lustre / splendor / splendour
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near brilliancy

Bright's disease

brighten

brightness

brill

brilliance

brilliancy

brilliant

brim

brimful

brimming

brimstone

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