illuminant
Americannoun
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nonilluminant noun
- unilluminant adjective
Etymology
Origin of illuminant
1635–45; < Latin illūminant- (stem of illūmināns ) present participle of illūmināre to light up, brighten, equivalent to illūmin- ( illumine ) + -ant- -ant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A fixture even more than a star, either way an illuminant.
From New York Times
Lighthouse illuminants changed dramatically over time, running the gamut from whale, lard and vegetable oil to kerosene, acetylene and finally electricity.
From Time
The airy, brick-lined museum calls attention to their historic magnitude, feats of engineering and the inventors who perfected illuminants and optics.
From New York Times
This lovely illuminant contrivance is perhaps symbolic of that golden age.”
From Forbes
If the gilds forbade the carrying on of a craft by night, it was because the dim gloom of ancient illuminants meant bad work, and not because protracted toil made unhealthy workmen.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
