Limn

Limn
Limn Limn (l[i^]m), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Limned} (l[i^]md); p. pr. & vb. n. {Limning} (l[i^]m"n[i^]ng or l[i^]m"[i^]ng).] [OE. limnen, fr. luminen, for enluminen, F. enluminer to illuminate, to limn, LL. illuminare to paint. [root]122. See {Illuminate}, {Luminous}.] 1. To draw or paint; especially, to represent in an artistic way with pencil or brush. [1913 Webster]

Let a painter carelessly limn out a million of faces, and you shall find them all different. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence: To picture in words; to describe in graphic terms. [PJC]

3. To illumine, as books or parchments, with ornamental figures, letters, or borders. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • limn — index delineate, depict, portray Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • limn... — limn...,   Wortbildungselement, limno …   Universal-Lexikon

  • limn — (v.) early 15c., to illuminate (manuscripts), altered from M.E. luminen, to illuminate manuscripts (late 14c.), from O.Fr. luminer light up, illuminate, from L. luminare illuminate, burnish, from lumen (gen. luminis) radiant energy, light,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • limn — vb *represent, depict, portray, delineate, picture …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • limn — ► VERB literary ▪ depict or describe in painting or words. DERIVATIVES limner noun. ORIGIN originally in the sense «illuminate a manuscript»: from Latin luminare make light …   English terms dictionary

  • limn — [lim] vt. limned, limning [lim′iŋ, lim′niŋ] [ME limnen, contr. < luminen, for enluminen < OFr enluminer < L illuminare, ILLUMINATE] 1. to paint or draw 2. to portray in words; describe 3. Obs. to illuminate (manuscripts) limner [lim′ər,… …   English World dictionary

  • limn — dis·limn; limn; …   English syllables

  • limn — transitive verb (limned; limning) Etymology: Middle English limnen to illuminate (a manuscript), probably back formation from lymnour illuminator, alteration of lumenur, from Anglo French aluminer, enluminer to illuminate, ultimately from Latin… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • limn- — (prefix) lake …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • limn — /lim/, v.t. 1. to represent in drawing or painting. 2. to portray in words; describe. 3. Obs. to illuminate (manuscripts). [1400 50; late ME lymne, var. of ME luminen to illuminate (manuscripts), aph. var. of enlumine < MF enluminer < L… …   Universalium

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