limn

limn

transitive verb \ˈlim\

limnedlimn·ing \ˈli-miŋ, ˈlim-niŋ\

Definition of LIMN

1

: to draw or paint on a surface

2

: to outline in clear sharp detail : delineate

3

: describe <the novel limns the frontier life of the settlers>

— limn·er \ˈli-mər, ˈlim-nər\ noun

Examples of LIMN

1. <he limned the scene in the courtroom so perfectly I could practically see it>

Origin of LIMN

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 illuminare

First Known Use: 1592

Related to LIMN

Synonyms

delineate, depict, draw, image, describe, paint, picture, portray, render, set out, sketch

Related Words

characterize, define, label, qualify, represent; demonstrate, illustrate; narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report, tell; display, exhibit, show; hint, suggest; draft, outline, silhouette, trace, vignette; summarize, sum up, touch off; redescribe, reimage

Near Antonyms

color, distort, falsify, garble, misdescribe, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

Rhymes with LIMN

bream, brim, dim, glim, grim, Grimm, gym, him, hymn, limb, mim, nim, prim, rim, scrim, shim, skim, slim, swim, Tim, trim, vim, whim