Limn

Pronunciation

• enPR: lÄ­m, IPA: /lɪm/
• Rhymes: -ɪm
• Homophones: lim, limb

Origin

Middle English luminem, limnen ("to illuminate (a manuscript)"), from Middle French enluminer, from Latin illūminō ("I illuminate") (English illuminate), in + lūminō ("light up"), from lūmen ("light"), from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (English leam ("glow")).

Full definition of limn

Verb

1. (transitive) To draw or paint; delineate.
2. (transitive) To describe.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To illuminate, as a manuscript.

Usage notes

Particularly used in arts journalism; not understood by significant portion of American public.

The Sun goes out on a limn with unusual headline: Unusual word in front-page headline leaves some readers scratching their heads, Jill Rosen, The Baltimore Sun, September 7, 2010

Derived terms

• limner