luminary

noun

lu·​mi·​nary ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce luminary (audio)
plural luminaries
Synonyms of luminarynext
1
: a person of prominence or brilliant achievement
a literary luminary
a luminary in the medical profession
2
: a body that gives light
especially : one of the celestial bodies
skywatchers … will see one more bright luminary below Orion and Canis Major —Martin Ratcliffe
luminary adjective

Did you know?

As, dare we say, leading lights of the dictionary game, we're here to brighten your day with the 411 on luminary. This word has been casting its glow in English since the 15th century, and it traces back to the Latin word lumen, meaning "light." Other lumen descendants in English include illuminate ("to light up"), luminous ("emitting light"), phillumenist ("one who collects matchbooks or matchbox labels"), and bioluminescence ("the emission of light from living organisms").

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of luminary in a Sentence

luminaries of the art world awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sheila’s interviews with luminaries such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Gordon Parks, and Lisette Model frame the filmmaker’s spirit quest in the most splendidly helpful of terms. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Nov. 2024 While Ireland has always punched above its weight culturally, the shine of its many luminaries rarely reflected back on the island. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024 In a monumental career spanning more than 70 years, Jones collaborated with a host of musical luminaries ranging from mentors Count Basie and Clark Terry to Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. —Jennifer Frederick, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024 Indeed, no one is more preoccupied with such star power than Donald Trump himself, who basks in the adulation and approval of luminaries who support him and regularly lashes out at those who don’t. —Brian Lowry, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for luminary 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English luminarye "lamp, source of spiritual light," borrowed from Anglo-French luminarie, luminaire "celestial body, source of light, important person, lamp, candle." borrowed from Late Latin lūmināria, plural (later taken as feminine singular) of lūmināre "opening to let in light, source of light, lamp, torch, heavenly body, important person," from Latin lūmin-, lūmen "light, source of light, opening to let in light" + -ar, -āre, variant (after stems with an l) of -al, -āle, nominalized forms of -ālis -al entry 1 — more at lumen

Note: The earliest Anglo-French attestations, luminaries and luminaires in the Oxford and Cambridge Psalters, are also the earliest French attestations from any source. The vernacular outcome of lūmināria is lumière, which co-occurs in an early text (Chrétien de Troyes, Cligés) with luminaire, though the latter is found just once. — The Latin word lūmināre is attested once in the classical language, in Cato's De agri cultura 14.2. The Oxford Latin Dictionary translates it as "lamp," though the context, a list of items needed to construct and furnish a farm building, suggests that lūmināria have some relationship to windows.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of luminary was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near luminary

luminarist

luminary

luminate

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Luminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/luminary. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

luminary

noun
lu·​mi·​nary ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce luminary (audio)
plural luminaries
1
: a very famous person
2
: a source of light
especially : one of the heavenly bodies
luminary adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on luminary

Nglish: Translation of luminary for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of luminary for Arabic Speakers

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