The root "cand" in the word "candescent" comes from the Latin word "candere," which means "to shine" or "to glow." Therefore, "candescent" refers to something that is glowing or shining, typically as a result of being heated.
In the context of your sentence, "the condescending quality of the room was improved by the southern exposure," it appears that you're trying to associate the pleasant, glowing quality of light that comes from a southern exposure (which allows more sunlight to enter a room) with the concept of being luminous or bright, akin to "candescent."
So, to clarify:
- "Candescent" means glowing or shining, particularly due to heat.
- The pleasant glow that is often found in rooms with southern exposure can indeed enhance the quality of the light in that space.
Hence, "candescent" fits well with the notion of a room being made more beautiful by warm, bright sunlight.