scintilla

[sin-til-uh] /sɪnˈtɪl ə/

noun

a minute particle; spark; trace:

not a scintilla of remorse.

Origin

1685-95; < Latin: spark

Examples from the web for scintilla

She wants us to accept, without a scintilla of real evidence, that autism is an epidemic.
Then and only then make a decision on prosecution, so that there is no scintilla of haste or heat.
It is more than a mere scintilla but may be less than a preponderance.
It has also been defined as more than a scintilla and less than a preponderance.
It is more than a mere scintilla of evidence but may be less than a preponderance.
Substantial evidence is more than a mere scintilla but may be less than a preponderance.

British Dictionary definitions for scintilla

scintilla

/sɪnˈtɪlə/

noun

a minute amount; hint, trace, or particle

Word Origin

C17: from Latin: a spark

Word Origin and History for scintilla

1690s, "spark, glimmer," hence "least particle, trace," from figurative use of Latin scintilla "particle of fire, spark, glittering speck, atom," probably from PIE *ski-nto-, from root *skai- "to shine, to gleam" (cf. Gothic skeinan, Old English scinan "to shine;" see shine (v.)).