limn
[lim]
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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for limns
Contemporary Examples of limns
“Count the number of times he uses ‘I’ in any speech, and compare that to any other president,” limns Doctor Krauthammer.
Historical Examples of limns
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.
Home Life of Great AuthorsHattie Tyng Griswold
Olivier-Rolland limns this dream of his youth, designing upon his literary canvas the picture of his own life.
Romain RollandStefan 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 5Boswell
limn
verb (tr)
Word Origin for limn
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
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limn
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper