igniculus, i, m. dim. ignis, a small fire, a little flame, a spark. Lit.: quaedam exigua animalia igniculi videntur in tenebris, Quint. 12, 10, 76; Plin. 35, 15, 52, § 184; Juv. 3, 102.

— Transf., of color, a glittering, sparkling: onyx Indica igniculos habet, Plin. 37, 6, 24, § 90; 37, 7, 25, § 93.

— Trop., fire, sparks, vehemence, etc. (freq. in Cic.): quo tolerabilius feramus igniculum desiderii tui, i. e. vehemence, Cic. Fam. 15, 20, 2: (natura) parvulos nobis dedit igniculos, quos celeriter malis moribus opinionibusque depravatis sic restinguimus, ut nusquam naturae lumen appareat, sparks (= scintillas), Cic. Tusc. 3, 1, 2; cf. id. Leg. 1, 12, 33: quasi virtutum igniculi et semina, id. Fin. 5, 7, 18: nonnullos interdum jacit igniculos viriles, id. Att. 15, 26, 2: ingenii igniculos ostendere, Quint. 6 praef. § 7.