lucubrate
[ loo-kyoo-breyt ]
/ ˈlu kyʊˌbreɪt /
verb (used without object), lu·cu·brat·ed, lu·cu·brat·ing.
to work, write, or study laboriously, especially at night.
to write learnedly.
Nearby words
lucre, lucrece, lucretia, lucretius, lucrezia borgia, lucubrate, lucubration, luculent, lucullan, lucullean, lucullus
Origin of lucubrate
1615–25; < Latin lūcubrātus, past participle of lūcubrāre to work by artificial light, equivalent to lūcu-, variant (before labials) of lūci-, combining form of lūcēre to shine + -br(um) instrumental suffix + -ā- theme vowel + -tus past participle suffix
Related formslu·cu·bra·tor, nounlu·cu·bra·to·ry [loo-kyoo-bruh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /luˈkyu brəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for lucubrate
lucubrate
/ (ˈluːkjʊˌbreɪt) /
verb
(intr) to write or study, esp at night
Derived Formslucubrator, noun
Word Origin for lucubrate
C17: from Latin lūcubrāre to work by lamplight
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for lucubrate
lucubrate
"to work at night," 1620s, from Latin lucubratus, past participle of lucubrare "to work by lamplight" (see lucubration). Literally, "to work by artificial light," hence "to work laboriously."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper