illuminant

[ih-loo-muh-nuhnt]

noun

1. an illuminating illuminating agent or material.

illuminant

/ ɪˈluːmɪnənt /

noun

1. something that provides or gives off light

adjective

1. giving off light; illuminating

Other Word Forms

• nonilluminant noun
• unilluminant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of illuminant¹

1635–45; < Latin illūminant- (stem of illūmināns ) present participle of illūmināre to light up, brighten, equivalent to illūmin- ( illumine ) + -ant- -ant

Example Sentences

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