luminary
[ loo-muh-ner-ee ]
/ ˈlu məˌnɛr i /
noun, plural lu·mi·nar·ies.
a celestial body, as the sun or moon.
a body, object, etc., that gives light.
a person who has attained eminence in his or her field or is an inspiration to others: one of the luminaries in the field of medical science.
adjective
of, relating to, or characterized by light.
RELATED CONTENT
Nearby words
lumiere, luminaire, luminal, luminance, luminaria, luminary, luminate, lumine, luminesce, luminescence, luminescent
Origin of luminary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for luminary
British Dictionary definitions for luminary
luminary
/ (ˈluːmɪnərɪ) /
noun plural -naries
a person who enlightens or influences others
a famous person
literary something, such as the sun or moon, that gives off light
adjective
of, involving, or characterized by light or enlightenment
Word Origin for luminary
C15: via Old French, from Latin lūmināre lamp, 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 luminary
luminary
mid-15c., "lamp, source of (artificial) light," from Old French luminarie (12c.), "lamp, lights, lighting; candles; brightness, illumination," from Late Latin luminare "light, torch, lamp, heavenly body," literally "that which gives light," from Latin lumen (genitive luminis) "light," related to lucere "to shine" (see light (n.)). Sense of "notable person" is first recorded 1690s, though the Middle English word also had a figurative sense of "source of spiritual light, example of holiness."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper