limn

[lim]

See more synonyms for limn on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to represent in drawing or painting.
to portray in words; describe.
Obsolete. to illuminate (manuscripts).

Origin of limn

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 formsout·limn, verb (used with object)un·limned, adjective

Can be confusedlimb limn

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for limns

Contemporary Examples

“Count the number of times he uses ‘I’ in any speech, and compare that to any other president,” limns Doctor Krauthammer.
Why the Right Thinks Obama’s a Narcissist—and Why They’re Wrong
John McWhorter
September 18, 2014

Historical Examples

He limns England as it was, and as it is; and asks the aristocratic and the millocrat if they are not ashamed of their deeds?
Homes and haunts of the most eminent British poets, Vol. II (of 2)
William Howitt
Here, too, he limns the scenes of his comedy-tragedy, and depicts the changing fashions of the time.
Home Life of Great Authors
Hattie Tyng Griswold
Olivier-Rolland limns this dream of his youth, designing upon his literary canvas the picture of his own life.
Romain Rolland
Stefan Zweig
The poem is also given in The Golden Treasury, p. 37; where, however, 'limns the water' is changed into 'limns on water.'
Life Of Johnson, Volume 5
Boswell

British Dictionary definitions for limns

limn

verb (tr)

to represent in drawing or painting
archaic to describe in words
an obsolete word for illuminate

Derived Formslimner (ˈlɪmnə), noun

Word Origin

C15: from Old French enluminer to illumine (a manuscript) from Latin inlūmināre to brighten, from lūmen light

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for limns

limn

v.

early 15c., "to illuminate" (manuscripts), altered from Middle English luminen, "to illuminate manuscripts" (late 14c.), from Old French luminer "light up, illuminate," from Latin luminare "illuminate, burnish," from lumen (genitive luminis) "radiant energy, light," related to lucere "to shine" (see light (n.)). Sense of "portray, depict" first recorded 1590s. Related: Limned.

limn

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Examples from the Web for limns

Contemporary Examples

“Count the number of times he uses ‘I’ in any speech, and compare that to any other president,” limns Doctor Krauthammer.

Historical Examples

He limns England as it was, and as it is; and asks the aristocratic and the millocrat if they are not ashamed of their deeds?

Here, too, he limns the scenes of his comedy-tragedy, and depicts the changing fashions of the time.

Olivier-Rolland limns this dream of his youth, designing upon his literary canvas the picture of his own life.

The poem is also given in The Golden Treasury, p. 37; where, however, 'limns the water' is changed into 'limns on water.'

limn

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for limns

limn

v.

Origin of limn