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limn

 - 3 dictionary results

limn

  [lim]
Use limn in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to represent in drawing or painting.
2. to portray in words; describe.
3. Obsolete. to illuminate (manuscripts).
Origin:
1400–50; late ME lymne, var. of ME luminen to illuminate (manuscripts), aph. var. of enlumine < MF enluminer < L inlūmināre to embellish, lit., light up; see illuminate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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limn   (lĭm)   
tr.v.   limned, limn·ing (lĭm'nĭng), limns

  1. To describe.

  2. To depict by painting or drawing. See Synonyms at represent.


[Middle English limnen, to illuminate (a manuscript), probably alteration (influenced by limnour, illustrator) of luminen, from Old French luminer, from Latin lūmināre, to illuminate, adorn, from lūmen, lūmin-, light; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.]
limn'er (lĭm'nər) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

limn 
c.1420, "to illuminate" (manuscripts), altered from M.E. lumine, "to illuminate manuscripts," from O.Fr. luminer, from L. luminare "illuminate, burnish," from lumen (gen. luminis) "radiant energy, light." Sense of "portray, depict" first recorded 1592.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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