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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 Middle English lymne, variant of Middle English luminen to illuminate (manuscripts), aphetic variant of enlumine < Middle French enluminer < Latin inlūmināre to embellish, literally, light up; see illuminate
1400–50; late Middle English lymne, variant of Middle English luminen to illuminate (manuscripts), aphetic variant of enlumine < Middle French enluminer < Latin inlūmināre to embellish, literally, light up; see illuminate
Related forms
out·limn, verb (used with object)
un·limned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Limn
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is hew. Does it mean:
| strike forcibly with an ax, sword, or other cutting instrument |
| empty, solemn speech |
Example Sentences
- Duneier is a professor of sociology, but he has a superb journalist's ear for quotes and the ability to limn character and scene.
- They are rated by their ability to limn the customer's likeness on paper.
- There is no determined plotting or pioneering zeal from childhood to limn her story.
Collins
World English Dictionary
| limn (lɪm) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to represent in drawing or painting |
| 2. | archaic to describe in words |
| 3. | an obsolete word for illuminate |
| [C15: from Old French enluminer to illumine (a manuscript) from Latin inlūmināre to brighten, from lūmen light] | |
| limner | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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